Minor Contribution of Mutations in Ethambutol-Resistant Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): Jaber Al-Anoud, Ahmad Suhail, Mokaddas Eiman
Primary Institution: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University
Hypothesis
The study aims to assess the frequency of mutations at iniA501 and in embC-embA intergenic region in EMB-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.
Conclusion
Mutations at iniA501 and in embC-embA IGR in EMB-resistant M. tuberculosis strains in Kuwait occur infrequently, suggesting limited utility in rapid EMB resistance detection.
Supporting Evidence
- Only one of the 50 EMB-resistant strains had a mutation at iniA501.
- All 25 pansusceptible strains contained wild-type sequences at iniA501.
- The study suggests that including iniA501 and embC-embA IGR mutations in resistance detection will have minimal impact.
Takeaway
The study found that only one out of 50 resistant tuberculosis strains had a mutation that could help detect resistance to a drug called ethambutol, meaning most strains don't have this mutation.
Methodology
The study analyzed 50 EMB-resistant and 25 pansusceptible M. tuberculosis strains using PCR and DNA sequencing to detect mutations.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable to all regions due to the specific population and strains analyzed.
Participant Demographics
The study included 50 EMB-resistant strains from 50 different TB patients, primarily of Middle-Eastern and South-Asian origin, aged 18 to 65 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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