Development of a PCR assay based on the 16S–23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer for identification of strictly anaerobic bacterium Zymophilus

PCR-primers were designed for identification of strictly anaerobic bacteria of the genus Zymophilus based on genus-specific sequences of the 16S–23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer region. The specificity of the primers was tested against 37 brewery-related non-target microorganisms that could potentially occur in the same brewery specimens. None DNA was amplified from any of the non-Zymophilus strains tested including genera from the same family (Pectinatus, Megasphaera, Selenomonas), showing thus 100% specificity. PCR assay developed in this study allows an extension of the spectra of detected beer spoilage microorganisms in brewery laboratories. •We designed PCR-primers for identification of anaerobic bacterium Zymophilus.•The primers are based of the genus-specific sequences of the 16S–23S rDNA ITS region.•Specificity of the primers was tested against 37 brewery-related non-target microbes.