Molecular methods for the detection and identification of Pseudomonas stutzeri in pure culture and environmental samples

A polymerase chain reaction and an oligonucleotide probe method were developed for the specific detection and identification of the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri. This is an important species in environmental studies and can also be present in clinical samples. The primers for the amplification and the probe were designed from the analysis of 16S rRNA sequences. The PCR/oligonucleotide probe method, in combination with a direct lysis DNA extraction and an effective purification method, is an alternative to viable methods for the detection of P. stutzeri in environmental samples.