Mycobacterium kumamotonense, another Member of the Mycobacterium terrae Complex Unusually Carrying Two Copies of the Ribosomal RNA Operon

Abstract

The novel slow-grower Mycobacterium kumamotonense was previously misidentified as Mycobacteriumtuberculosis complex using commercial probes. Similarly to other slow-growers that cross-react with the tuberclebacilli using commercial probes, M. kumamotonense is carrying two copies of the ribosomal RNA operon (rrn) pergenome. Analysis of the corresponding rrn regions allowed the identification of sequences putatively involved in thatcross-reactivity.