[Genus-specific DNA probe for detection of Yersinia].

In order to create a rDNA probe for plague agent (Yersinia pestis) double-stranded DNA fragments complementary to 5'-region of 16S rRNA were synthetized with the help of reverse transcriptase. The fragments were cloned into plasmid vector pUC19 in Escherichia coli. To select plasmids with specific for Y. pestis sequences, recombinant clones and plasmids purified from them were cross-hybridized to [gamma-32 P]-labelled 16S rRNA of E. coli and Y. pestis. As was shown after sequencing of recombinant plasmids, those that did not hybridize to 16S rRNA of E. coli carried a DNA copy of variable region V1 of Y. pestis 16S rRNA. This region was used as a basis for the construction of rDNA probe for genus-specific determination of Yersinia.