Pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography studies for the classification of mycobacteria.

Abstract

Pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography was used as a means of rapidly classifying various species and strains of mycobacteria. Each type of organism gave its own unique pattern of pyrolytic products (fingerprint). Mycobacterial cultures studied included Mycobacterium tuberculosis, both drug-resistant and drug-susceptible strains, smooth and rough colony forms of Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium fortuitum, and Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. Organisms were subcultured for periods of two, four, and six weeks in each of three different media. Some strains showed a change of pyrolysis (or fragmentation) pattern with increasing age of culture, some with a change in media, whereas others were virtually unaffected by either modification.