Variation of the ribosomal operon 16S-23S gene spacer region in representatives of Salmonella enterica subspecies

Sequencing of the spacer region between the 16S and 23S ribosomal operons, rrnA and rrnE, respectively, was undertaken to determine variation and investigate phylogeny in Salmonella enterica subspecies. The variation in this DNA segment was found to be due to insertions and deletions and the degree of variability is much higher compared to that in Escherichia coli. The results of phylogenetic analyses are consistent with the accepted phylogenetic relationships in S. enterica subspecies.