Environmental mycobacteria closely related to the pathogenic species evidenced in an acidic forest wetland

Abstract

The diversity of mycobacteria was assessed by cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragment amplified with Mycobacterium-specific primers. Cloning revealed high abundance and diversity of slow-growing species.

Two novel clusters of sequences unrelated to the known mycobacteria were identified.

Keywords

• Mycobacterium
• diversity
• organic matter
• seasons
• pathogenic strains