Specific Detection of the Gene for the Extracellular Neutral Protease of <i>Bacillus cereus</i> by PCR and Blot Hybridization

Abstract

A pair of primers and a gene probe for the amplification and detection of the Bacillus cereus neutral protease gene (NPRC) were developed. Specificity for the npr genes of the B. cereus group members B. cereus, B. mycoides, and B. thuringiensis was shown. Restriction polymorphism patterns of the PCR products confirmed the presence of the NPRC gene in all three species.