Molecular cloning of a specific DNA probe for the identification of Bacillus licheniformis.

Bacillus licheniformis has been found to be one of the dominant nosocomial species of Bacillus: laboratories dealing with nosocomial infections must be able to identify Bacillus up to the species level. To date, no DNA probes have been isolated for B. licheniformis although there is a clear need for a direct detection by polymerase chain reaction. The isolation of a B. licheniformis-specific DNA probe, as described in this paper, represents the first step toward accomplishing this goal.