Development of real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for specific detection of Tsukamurella by targeting the 16S rRNA gene

Recently, members of the genus Tsukamurella have been implicated as important etiologic pathogens contributing to bloodstream and pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients. Tsukamurella species share many features with other mycolic acid–containing genera of the order Actinomycetales and might therefore be misidentified as belonging to one of these genera. We developed a TaqMan-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the rapid and specific detection of infections due to Tsukamurella species. The assay amplifies and detects a 157-bp segment of the 16S rRNA gene of Tsukamurella. The specificity of the assay was confirmed using a panel of DNAs from 12 Tsukamurella strains and 11 strains belonging to 8 phylogenetic closely related genera. The sensitive and specific nature of the assay provides a valuable tool for the early and precise diagnosis of Tsukamurella infections in clinical diagnostic laboratories.