SUPERIORITY OF PARTIAL 16S rRNA GENE SEQUENCING FOR IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIAL STRAINS ISOLATED from MEAT PRODUCTS

Abstract

Unlike phenotypic methods of bacterial identification, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is an innovative DNA-based technique for the rapid identification of foodborne pathogens. In this study, the ability of both partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the API Rapid20E, for identification of 48 different bacterial strains isolated from meat products, plus 2 control bacterial strains, was compared. Genotypically, the partial (770 bp) 16S rRNA gene sequencing was able to identify 38 (76%) isolates to the species level and 11 (22%) isolates to the genus level, whereas only one (2%) isolate could not be correctly identified. Phenotypically, the API Rapid20E could identify 24 (48%) isolates to the specie level, and 14 (28%) isolates to the genus level, while 12 (24%) isolates could not be discriminated at any taxonomic level. The results revealed that partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was useful in ascertaining the relevance of tested strains; hence, it can be used in food microbiology laboratory for correct and rapid identification of foodborne pathogens.