Open AccessDetecting Novel Genetic Variants Associated with Isoniazid-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Author(s) -
Sandhya Shekar,
Zhen Xuan Yeo,
Joshua C. L. Wong,
Maurice Chan,
Danny Ong,
Pumipat Tongyoo,
Serre-Yu Wong,
Ann S. G. Lee
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0102383
Subject(s) - inha , mycobacterium tuberculosis , biology , sanger sequencing , gene , genetics , isoniazid , mutation , drug resistance , intergenic region , tuberculosis , microbiology and biotechnology , genome , medicine , pathology
Background Isoniazid (INH) is a highly effective antibiotic central for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). INH-resistant MTB clinical isolates are frequently mutated in the katG gene and the inhA promoter region, but 10 to 37% of INH-resistant clinical isolates have no detectable alterations in currently known gene targets associated with INH-resistance. We aimed to identify novel genes associated with INH-resistance in these latter isolates. Methodology/Principal Findings INH-resistant clinical isolates of MTB were pre-screened for mutations in the katG , inhA , kasA and ndh genes and the regulatory regions of inhA and ahpC . Twelve INH-resistant isolates with no mutations, and 17 INH-susceptible MTB isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Phylogenetically related variants and synonymous mutations were excluded and further analysis revealed mutations in 60 genes and 4 intergenic regions associated with INH-resistance. Sanger sequencing verification of 45 genes confirmed that mutations in 40 genes were observed only in INH-resistant isolates and not in INH-susceptible isolates. The ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations (dN/dS ratio) for the INH-resistance associated mutations identified in this study were 1.234 for INH-resistant and 0.654 for INH-susceptible isolates, strongly suggesting that these mutations are indeed associated with INH-resistance. Conclusion The discovery of novel targets associated with INH-resistance described in this study may potentially be important for the development of improved molecular detection strategies.