Open AccessIdentification of novel metronidazole‐inducible genes in Mycobacterium smegmatis using a customized amplification library
Author(s) -
Kim SuYoung,
Shin Sung Jae,
Song ChangHwa,
Jo EunKyeong,
Kim HwaJung,
Park JeongKyu
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2008.01143.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium smegmatis , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , efflux , mutant , drug resistance , bacterial genetics , genetics , mycobacterium tuberculosis , tuberculosis , medicine , pathology , escherichia coli
The incidence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria is rising. Bacterial resistance may be a natural defense of organisms, or it may result from spontaneous mutations or the acquisition of exogenous resistance genes. We grew spontaneous metronidazole‐resistant Mycobacterium smegmatis mutants on solid medium cultures and employed differential expression using a customized amplification library to analyze the global gene profiles of metronidazole‐resistant mutants under hypoxic conditions. In total, 66 genes involved in metronidazole resistance were identified and functionally characterized using the gene role category of M. smegmatis . Overall, genes associated with cell wall synthesis, such as methyltransferase and glycosyltransferase, and genes encoding drug transporters were highly expressed. The genes may be involved in the natural drug resistance of mycobacteria by increasing mycobacterial cell wall permeability and the efflux pumps of active drugs. In addition, the genes may play a role in dormancy. The genes identified in this study may lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of metronidazole resistance during dormancy.