Hybridization assays for the detection of campylobacter

摘要

A DNA probe and method for detecting Campylobacter jejuni, which consists essentially of a DNA sequence that is: a) derived from a chromosomal sequence of a bacterium of the species C. jejuni or C. coli but is less than the entire chromosomal sequence of that bacterium; b) capable of hybridizing to DNA of at least 80% of bacteria that are in the species C. jejuni and/or C. coli; and c) not capable of hybridizing to DNA of bacteria that are not in the genus Campylobacter. The method features detecting C. jejuni in a sample by providing at least one probe capable of selectively binding to C. jejuni but not bacteria that do not belong to the genus Campylobacter, contacting that DNA probe with bacteria in the sample under conditions that allow the probe to hybridize to C. jejuni in the sample thus forming hybrid DNA complexes, and detecting the hybrid complexes as an indication of C. jejuni in the sample.