Open AccessMolecular Characterization of Fluoroquinolone Resistance inMycobacterium tuberculosis: Functional Analysis ofgyrAMutation at Position 74
Author(s) -
Ricky Lau,
Pak-Leung Ho,
Ryt Kao,
WingWai Yew,
Terrence Chi-Kong Lau,
Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng,
KwokYung Yuen,
Stephen KwokWing Tsui,
Xinchun Chen,
Wing-Cheong Yam
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.00920-10
Subject(s) - dna gyrase , mycobacterium tuberculosis , topoisomerase iv , quinolone , biology , tuberculosis , microbiology and biotechnology , drug resistance , sparfloxacin , virology , ofloxacin , genetics , ciprofloxacin , gene , medicine , antibiotics , escherichia coli , pathology
A PCR-sequencing assay was evaluated for direct detection of mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrase A (gyrA) gene in fluoroquinolone-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens. As determined by gyrA QRDR analysis, complete concordance of genotypic and phenotypic fluoroquinolone resistance was demonstrated. Our results indicate that the assay is a rapid and reliable method for the diagnosis of fluoroquinolone-resistant tuberculosis, facilitating timely clinical management and public health control. Using the assay, we detected a novel gyrA Ala74Ser mutation in M. tuberculosis directly from sputum specimens. The functional effect of the Ala74Ser mutant was verified through the study of the DNA supercoiling inhibitory activity of fluoroquinolones against the recombinant gyrase. The drug-mediated gyrase-DNA cleavage complex model suggests perturbation of the gyrA-gyrA dimer interface caused by the Ala74Ser mutation probably disturbs the putative quinolone binding pocket and leads to the reduction of the drug binding affinity. A number of gyrA mutations (Glu21Gln, Ser95Thr, and Gly668Asp) were also characterized to be natural polymorphisms not associated with fluoroquinolone resistance.