Species-Specific Identification ofandDistinction between Borrelia burgdorferi GenomicGroups byUsing 16SrRNA-Directed Oligonucleotide Probes

Examination ofa numberofpreviously published aligned Borrelia 16SrRNA sequencesrevealed the presenceofregions whichcould serveasoligonucleotide probe targets forbothspecies-specific identification of Borrelia burgdorferi anddistinction betweengenomic groups.Totalcellular RNA isolated fromBorrelia cultures was usedinslot blotanalysis. Radiolabeled oligonucleotides designed tohybridize tospecific 16SrRNA targets were usedasprobes. Theseprobes allowed forbothspecies-specific identification andgenomic group typing ofB.burgdorferi.