Ribosomal DNA Sequences of Bifidobacteria: Implications for Sequence-based Identification of the Human Colonic Flora

Abstract
We sequenced 16S ribosomal DNA from eight Bifidobacterium strains to explore the feasibility of using ribosomal RNA sequence to characterise the human colonic flora. The genus was well defined by this method. Closely related species could be readily distinguished. Ribosomal RNA should be an appropriate target for identification of bifidobacteria in the human colonic flora.