Patent Evaluation: Molecular detection and identification of a new mycobacterium

Summary

Novelty: A new mycobacterial species M. genavense sp. is claimed together with a nucleic acid probe capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence of the mycobacterium and a method of detecting M. genavense in a sample. This mycobacterium is stated to occur as an opportunistic infection in AIDS patients.

Biology: The new mycobacterium was detected and characterised from samples from two AIDS patients. Subsequently, sixteen other AIDS patients were found to be similarly infected with this organism.

Chemistry: Full details for the amplification and sequencing of the 16S and RNA gene of M. genavense are given together with details for using the resulting nucleic acid probe for detecting M. genavense infection.