Characterization of rpoB mutations in rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from the Middle East

The nature and frequency of mutations in the rpoB gene of rifampin-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates vary considerably according to geographical locations. There is no information on the prevalence of specific mutations in clinical M. tuberculosis strains isolated from patients in Middle-Eastern countries. In this study, 13 rifampin-resistant and 6 susceptible clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were tested for identification and characterization of mutations in the rpoB gene by INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit and DNA sequencing of the PCR amplified target DNA. The kit identified all six susceptible strains as rifampin-sensitive and the DNA sequence of the amplified rpoB gene in the target region matched perfectly with the wild-type sequence. The kit identified 12 resistant isolates as rifampin-resistant with specific detection of mutations in 8 isolates while one of the rifampin-resistant strain was identified as rifampin-susceptible. DNA sequencing confirmed these results and, in addition, led to the specific detection of mutations in 4 rifampin-resistant isolates in which specific base changes within the target region could not be determined by the INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit. The majority (8 of 13) of resistant isolates involved base changes at codon 531 of the rpoB gene. Mutations at codon position 531 within the rpoB gene have also been reported in majority of rifampin-resistant strains from Greece and St. Petersburg, Russia but not from other geographical locations.     

Characterization of spontaneous, In vitro-selected, rifampin-resistant mutants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv

Resistance to rifampin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis results from mutations in the gene coding for the beta subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB). At least 95% of rifampin-resistant isolates have mutations in rpoB, and the mutations are clustered in a small region. About 40 distinct point mutations and in-frame insertions and deletions in rpoB have been identified, but point mutations in two codons, those coding for Ser(531) and His(526), are seen in about 70% of rifampin-resistant clinical isolates, with Ser(531)-to-Leu (TCG-to-TGG) mutations being by far the most common. To explore this phenomenon, we isolated independent, spontaneous, rifampin-resistant mutant versions of well-characterized M. tuberculosis laboratory strain H37Rv by plating 100 separate cultures, derived from a single low-density inoculum, onto rifampin-containing medium. Rifampin-resistant mutants were obtained from 64 of these cultures. Although we anticipated that the various point mutations would occur with approximately equal frequencies, sequencing the rpoB gene from one colony per plate revealed that 39 (60.9%) were Ser(531) to Leu. We conclude that, for unknown reasons, the associated rpoB mutation occurs at a substantially higher rate than other rpoB mutations. This higher mutation rate may contribute to the high percentage of this mutation seen in clinical isolates.     

耐利福平结核分枝杆菌rpoB基因序列研究

目的 研究杭州地区结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis）对利福平（RFP）的耐受与rpoB基因突变的关系。方法 随机挑选了90例结核杆菌感染的病例。选择了利福平作为主要的药物进行药敏实验，PCR扩增39株耐RFP结核分支杆菌的rpoB基因片段（580bp）；测定扩增片段的序列。并与美国国立生物信息中心（www．ncbi．nlm．nih．gov／nucleotide）检索获得结核杆菌野生株（利福平敏感株）序列（登陆号：AJ749948）作对比分析。结果 结果显示PCR结核测序方法得到了39例结核杆菌耐药株。51例敏感株，与药敏实验的方法检测的结果完全一致。测定的11株临床分离的耐药株中，526位或531位有突变，其中526位有突变的有7株，占耐药测定株63．6%，531位突变的有4株。占耐药测定株36．4％。未见两位点同时突变。检测的11株敏感株，未见526位或531位有突变。结论 杭州地区结核分支杆菌耐利福平的发生与rpoB基因的526位或531位突变密切相关，与国外的报告基本相似。但526位突变占耐药测定株高达63．6％。如此高比例目前国内外未见相似报道。PCR扩增和产物测序将是临床检测结核分支杆菌耐利福平和耐多药的一种迅速、准确的方法。     

耐利福平结核分枝杆菌 rpoA、rpoB、rpoC和rpoZ突变的研究

目的：了解结核分枝杆菌rpoA、rpoB、rpoC和rpoZ突变特征及其与利福平耐药的关系。方法对140株临床分离结核分枝杆菌进行利福平敏感性试验,并对耐利福平株分别进行rpoB耐药决定区及rpoA、rpoB、rpoC及rpoZ全基因测序。结果140株结核分枝杆菌中57株对利福平耐药。57株耐利福平结核分枝杆菌中,52株（91.2%）存在突变,其中50株为rpoB基因突变,2株为rpoC突变。在rpoB 765、1001、1156位及rpoC 51位发现新的突变位点。结论结核分枝杆菌对利福平耐药主要与rpoB和rpoC基因突变有关。     

首次复治肺结核病结核分枝杆菌对利福平耐药性与rpoB基因RRDR突变的研究

目的：研究分离自首次复治肺结核病患者的结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb）临床菌株对利福平的耐药性, 及其与rpoB基因利福霉素耐药决定区（rifampicin resistance determining regions, RRDR）位点突变间的相关性。方法：收集2013年2月至2013年12月国内19家医院的首次复治肺结核患者的Mtb, 进行利福平药敏检测;使用PCR技术检测Mtb的rpoB基因RRDR位点突变。结果：来自全国12个省19家医院共141例患者的141株临床菌株获得药敏结果, 而RRDR位点测序分析显示首次复治结核患者中有53%（75/141）对利福平耐药。RRDR DNA测序共检测到72株Mtb存在rpoB耐药突变区突变, 其中71株的突变发生在RRDR, 主要突变位点分别为531位（42株）、526位（11株）和516位（10株）。有75株Mtb对利福平耐药, 其中70株（93.3%）检测到rpoB突变, 69株的突变发生在RRDR;除了2株L511P、H526N突变的Mtb对利福平敏感, 70株rpoB突变株均对利福平耐药。对于复治结核患者, 检测RRDR突变判断利福平耐药有较高的特异度。结论：首次复治肺结核病患者对利福平耐药率较高, Mtb耐利福平与rpoB基因RRDR突变密切相关, RRDR突变检测可以用于快速鉴定复治肺结核病患者的Mtb利福平耐药。     

Relationship between rifampin MICs for and rpoB mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Japan.

We analyzed the relationship between rifampin MICs and rpoB mutations of 40 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A point mutation in either codon 516, 526, or 531 was found in 13 strains requiring MICs of > or = 64 micrograms/ml, while 21 strains requiring MICs of < or = 1 microgram/ml showed no alteration in these codons. However, 3 of these 21 strains contained a point mutation in either codon 515 or 533. Of the other six strains requiring MICs between 2 and 32 micrograms/ml, three contained a point mutation in codon 516 or 526, while no alteration was detected in the other three. Our results indicate that the sequencing analysis of a 69-bp fragment in the rpoB gene is useful in predicting rifampin-resistant phenotypes.     

rpoB基因在结核分枝杆菌利福平/利福布丁交叉耐药株中突变情况的差异分析

目的 了解结核分枝杆菌利福平/利福布丁交叉耐药株与利福平耐药/利福布丁敏感株rpoB全基因突变特征的差异.方法 测定rpoB全基因序列,比较278株利福平/利福布丁交叉耐药(rifampicin/rifabutin cross-resistant,RIF/Rfb-R)株和40株利福平耐药/利福布丁敏感(rifampicinresistant/rifabutin-susceptible,RIF-R/Rfb-S)株,30株利福平/利福布丁敏感(rifampicin-susceptible/rifabutin-susceptible,RIF-S/Rfb-S)株及标准株H37 Rv之间的rpoB全基因序列突变差异.结果 利福平/利福布丁敏感株和H37Rv rpoB全基因未发现突变;利福平/利福布丁交叉耐药株的常见突变位点是531(70.5％)和526( 20.9％).223( 80.2％)株单点突变株分别含有S531L、S531W、H526D、H526Y、H526R、Q513K、Q513P、Q510H、V176F、P287R、Y395C及H404Y单点突变,55( 19.8％)株多重突变株分别以S531L、H526R、H526Y、H526D、D516G和Q513K位点与其他位点联合突变为主.利福平耐药/利福布丁敏感株的常见突变位点分别是516(65.0％)、526( 17.5％)和533( 10.0％).21(52.5％)株单点突变株分别含有L533P、H526L、H526S、S522L、D516V、D516Y和D516F单点突变,19(47.5％)株多重突变株分别以D516V和L533P位点与其他位点联合突变为主.结论 本批标本中,利福霉素耐药株rpoB基因突变率为100％,利福平/利福布丁交叉耐药株与利福平耐药/利福布丁敏感株rpoB全基因单点突变株的突变位置或氨基酸替换类型、多重突变株的突变位置或组合类型以及常见突变位点或其氨基酸替换类型完全不同,rpoB全基因DNA序列分析对临床科学应用利福平和利福布丁有指导意义.     

Rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium kansasii is associated with rpoB mutations

Rifampin is the most potent drug used in the treatment of disease due to Mycobacterium kansasii. A 69-bp fragment of rpoB, the gene that encodes the beta subunit of the bacterial RNA polymerase, was sequenced and found to be identical in five rifampin-susceptible clinical isolates of M. kansasii. This sequence showed 87% homology with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene, with an identical deduced amino acid sequence. In contrast, missense mutations were detected in the same fragment amplified from five rifampin-resistant isolates. A rifampin-resistant strain generated in vitro also harbored an rpoB gene missense mutation that was not present in the parent isolate. All mutations detected (in codons 513, 526, and 531) have previously been described in rifampin-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates. Rifampin MICs determined by E-test were <1 mg/liter for all rifampin-susceptible isolates and >256 mg/liter for all rifampin-resistant ones. In addition, four of the five rifampin-resistant isolates were also resistant to rifabutin. We have thus shown a strong association between rpoB gene missense mutations and rifampin resistance in M. kansasii. Although our results are derived from a small number of isolates and confirmation with larger numbers would be useful, they strongly suggest that mutations within rpoB form the molecular basis of rifampin resistance in this species.     

武汉地区耐利福平结核分枝杆菌rpoB基因突变分析

摘要：目的：探讨武汉地区结核分枝杆菌（MTB）利福平耐药株rpoB基因的突变特征。 方法：对76例MTB临床分离株包括rpoB核心区域81 bp碱基在内的428 bp碱基进行PCR测定,并进行DNA序列分析。 结果：76例临床分离MTB中利福平耐药株56例,敏感株20例。耐药株中92.9%（52/56）存在突变,共涉及10个密码子的18种突变类型。 531、526为常见突变位点,其突变率分别为57.7%(30/52)、19.2%(10/52);联合突变率为13.5%（7/52）;同时发现了509位（AGC→AGA）新的突变类型和国内少见的517位CAG缺失类型。 结论：rpoB基因突变在武汉地区利福平耐药MTB中广泛存在,并存在新的突变位点。     

Detection of rpoB mutations associated with rifampin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to probe for mutations associated with rifampin (RIF) resistance in the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. DGGE scans for mutations across large regions of DNA and is comparable to DNA sequencing in detecting DNA alterations. Specific mutations are often recognized by their characteristic denaturation pattern, which serves as a molecular fingerprint. Five DGGE primer sets that scanned for DNA alterations across 775 bp of rpoB were developed. These primer sets were used to scan rpoB for DNA alterations in 296 M. tuberculosis patient isolates from the United States-Mexico border states of Texas and Tamaulipas. The most useful primer set scanned for mutations in the rifampin resistance-determining region (RRDR) and detected mutations in 95% of the RIF-resistant isolates compared to 2% of RIF-susceptible isolates. Thirty-four different alterations were observed within the RRDR by DGGE. In addition, isolates harboring mixtures of DNA within rpoB were readily detected by DGGE. A second PCR primer set was used to detect the V146A mutation in 5 to 7% of RIF-resistant isolates. A third primer set was used to detect mutations in 3% of RIF-resistant isolates, some of which also harbored mutations in the RRDR. Only 1 of 153 RIF-resistant isolates did not have a detectable rpoB mutation as determined by DGGE and DNA sequencing. These results demonstrate the power and usefulness of DGGE in detecting mutations associated with drug resistance in M. tuberculosis.     

95例耐多药结核菌株rpoB基因突变的分子特征

目的:探讨广东地区MDR-TB菌株rpoB基因突变的分子特征.方法:对95例MDR-TB菌株rpoB基因453-564位密码子片段进行PCR-直接测序.结果:95例MDR-TB菌株rpoB基因突变率91.58％.86例为点突变,1例插入突变,未发现缺失.常见位点为531 (63.22％)、526(20.69％)、516(9.20％).其中:单位点突变69例(80.23％),双位点突变16例(18.60％),三位点突变1例(1.17％).511位点突变常同时伴有其他位点突变(57.14％).结论:主要突变位点与国内外报道基本相同,但各位点所占比例具有地域差异;联合突变率较高,占19.54％.512位点插入(AGGAGC)突变可能为新突变类型.     

Rapid detection of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by in-house, reverse line blot assay

Drug resistance in tuberculosis is a significant problem in countries endemic for tuberculosis. A sensitive, specific, and high-throughput reverse line blot assay (RLBA) for the detection of genotypic resistance to rifampicin (RIF) was designed and evaluated. DNA sequencing done for 72 resistant isolates from Delhi, for baseline data, showed mutations within the rpoB core region in all RIF-resistant strains. The RLBA includes oligonucleotide probes specific for wild-type and mutant sequences, allowing sensitive detection of both genotypes in a single assay. The assay based on reverse hybridization principle simultaneously detects 13 different mutations affecting 6 independent codons, including the most prevalent mutations at positions 531 and 526. Application of the method to a panel of 292 MDR TB isolates and susceptible strains from 5 different cities in India showed 98% concordance with the sequencing results. This rapid, simple, economical, and highly sensitive assay provides a practical alternative to sequencing for genotypic evaluation of RIF resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.     

Allele-specific rpoB PCR assays for detection of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum smears

We describe an allele-specific PCR assay to detect mutations in three codons of the rpoB gene (516, 526, and 531) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains; mutations in these codons are reported to account for majority of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates resistant to rifampin (RIF), a marker of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Three different allele-specific PCRs are carried out either directly with purified DNA (single-step multiplex allele-specific PCR), or with preamplified rpoB fragment (nested allele-specific PCR [NAS-PCR]). The method was optimized and validated following analysis of 36 strains with known rpoB sequence. A retrospective analysis of the 287 DNA preparations from epidemiologically unlinked RIF-resistant clinical strains from Russia, collected from 1996 to 2002, revealed that 247 (86.1%) of them harbored a mutation in one of the targeted rpoB codons. A prospective study of microscopy-positive consecutive sputum samples from new and chronic TB patients validated the method for direct analysis of DNA extracted from sputum smears. The potential of the NAS-PCR to control for false-negative results due to lack of amplification was proven especially useful in the study of these samples. The developed rpoB-PCR assay can be used in clinical laboratories to detect RIF-resistant and hence MDR M. tuberculosis in the regions with high burdens of the MDR-TB.     

Molecular Analysis of Codon 548 in the rpoB Gene Involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resistance to Rifampin

Most Mycobacterium tuberculosis rifampin-resistant strains have been associated with mutations in an 81-bp rifampin resistance-determining region (RRDR) in the gene rpoB. However, if this region alone were targeted, rifampin-resistant strains with mutations outside the RRDR would not be detected. In this study, among 51 rifampin-resistant clinical isolates analyzed by sequencing 1,681-bp-long DNA fragments containing the RRDR, 47 isolates contained mutations within the RRDR, three isolates contained mutations both within and outside the RRDR, and only one isolate had a single missense mutation (Arg548His) located outside the RRDR. A drug susceptibility test of recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. tuberculosis isolates carrying mutated rpoB (Arg548His) showed an increased MIC for rifampin compared to that of the control strains. Modeling of the Arg548His mutant RpoB-DNA complex revealed that the His548 side chain formed a more stable hydrogen bond structure than did Arg548, reducing the flexibility of the rifampin-resistant cluster II region of RpoB, suggesting that the RpoB Arg548His mutant does not effectively interact with rifampin and results in bacterial resistance to the drug. This is the first report on the relationship between the mutation in codon 548 of RpoB and rifampin resistance in tuberculosis. The novel mutational profile of the rpoB gene described here will contribute to the comprehensive understanding of rifampin resistance patterns and to the development of a useful tool for simple and rapid drug susceptibility tests.     

Molecular characteristics of rifampicin- and isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from the Russian Federation

OBJECTIVES: Three Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic loci--rpoB and katG genes and the fabG1(mabA)-inhA operon promoter region--were studied to reveal the mutations associated with rifampicin and isoniazid resistance. METHODS: Four hundred and twelve isolates of M. tuberculosis from different regions of the Russian Federation were collected during 1997-2005. A matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based minisequencing method was used for the detection of mutations. RESULTS: Thirteen different variants of single mutations in codons 533, 531, 526, 516, 513 and 511 of the rifampicin resistance-determining region of the rpoB gene as well as the TTG insertion in the 514a position were found among the rifampicin-resistant isolates. Single nucleotide substitutions in codons 531, 526 and 516 (64.8%, 10.3% and 7.7%, respectively) were the most prevalent mutations. Codon 526 was shown to be the most variable of all. No mutations were detected in rpoB genes for 29 (10.7%) of the rifampicin-resistant isolates. 76.9% of the isoniazid-resistant isolates carried single mutations in codon 315 of the katG gene. For another 12.9% of them, double mutations in the katG gene and the fabG1(mabA)-inhA promoter region were revealed. No mutations were detected in 8.2% of the isoniazid-resistant isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular analysis of the loci of rpoB and katG genes and the inhA promoter region of 412 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates from various parts of the Russian Federation was carried out. The new MALDI-TOF MS-based method may be used for rapid and accurate monitoring of the spread of drug resistance.     

Molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated in Nepal

Despite the fact that Nepal is one of the first countries globally to introduce multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) case management, the number of MDR-TB cases is continuing to rise in Nepal. Rapid molecular tests applicable in this setting to identify resistant organisms would be an effective tool in reversing this trend. To develop such tools, information about the frequency and distribution of mutations that are associated with phenotypic drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is required. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of mutations in rpoB and katG genes and the inhA promoter region in 158 M. tuberculosis isolates (109 phenotypically MDR and 49 non-MDR isolates collected in Nepal) by DNA sequencing. Mutations affecting the 81-bp rifampin (RIF) resistance-determining region (RRDR) of rpoB were identified in 106 of 109 (97.3%) RIF-resistant isolates. Codons 531, 526, and 516 were the most commonly affected, at percentages of 58.7, 15.6, and 15.6%, respectively. Of 113 isoniazid (INH)-resistant isolates, 99 (87.6%) had mutations in the katG gene, with Ser315Thr being the most prevalent (81.4%) substitution. Mutations in the inhA promoter region were detected in 14 (12.4%) INH-resistant isolates. The results from this study provide an overview of the current situation of RIF and INH resistance in M. tuberculosis in Nepal and can serve as a basis for developing or improving rapid molecular tests to monitor drug-resistant strains in this country.     

基因芯片技术在结核分支杆菌耐药突变基因检测中的应用

目的通过基因芯片检测系统，快速检测临床样品中结核分支杆菌耐药突变情况。方法根据结核分支杆菌标准株H37Rv序列，设计了覆盖rpoB、katG，inhA基因突变区的系列寡核苷酸探针，制作膜芯片，检测临床样品中结核分支杆菌基因突变情况，以此判断耐药结果。结果在305例临床病例中，共检出阳性病例125例，其中阳性敏感病例64例，阳性突变病例61例，阳性率为40．98％，在125例阳性样品中，共发现有8种突变类型，其中10例531L，占7．94％，19例315M，占阳性样品中总数的15．08％。结论PCR与膜芯片杂交技术可临床检测结核分支杆菌对利福平和异烟肼的耐药性，并具有快速、简便、敏感的特点。     

DNA芯片快速检测耐利福平结核分枝杆菌rpoB基因突变

目的 开发快速检测耐利福平结核分枝杆菌(结核菌)rpoB基因突变的DNA芯片。方法 根据结核菌rpoB基因序列设计探针并制作基因芯片，从临床样品中分离出结核菌的基因组DNA，PCR扩增含有rpoB基因突变位点的特异DNA片段，荧光标记后与芯片上含有的检测特异突变位点的寡核苷酸探针进行杂交，同时与DNA直接测序法测定序列比较。结果 35株耐利福平结核菌中有91．4％(32／35)用直接测序法检测出存在rpoB基因突变，DNA芯片的检测效率为71．4％(25／35)。结论 用DNA芯片检测结核菌对利福平的耐药性具有较高的特异性和敏感性，可用于临床结核菌耐药性检测。     

实时荧光PCR分子信标检测耐利福平结核分枝杆菌印rpoB基因

目的 应用实时荧光PCR分子信标技术,建立快速检测临床标本中结核分枝杆菌利福平rpoB相关耐药突变点方法,探讨其缩短耐药实验报告时间的临床应用价值.方法 以分枝杆菌药物敏感性实验绝对浓度法为标准,12株非结核分枝杆菌、4株非分枝杆菌作对照,对174例结核患者临床分离株应用实时荧光PCR分子信标方法,检测利福平rpoB核心区域的耐药突变点并将结果与直接测序进行比较.结果 (1)实时荧光PCR分子信标方法:82例结核分枝杆菌利福平敏感菌株中,3例发生rpoB基因突变,特异度为96.3%;92例结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药菌株中,82例检出耐药突变,敏感度为89.1%;准确性为92.5%.(2)DNA直接测序分析:82例结核分枝杆菌利福平敏感株中,1例发生rpoB基因突变,特异度为98.8%;92例结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药菌株中,83例发生:rpoB基因突变,敏感度为90.2%;准确性为94.2%.检测174株结核分枝杆菌临床分离菌株,与实时荧光PCR分子信标方法检测一致性为98.3%(171/174).结论 实时荧光PCR分子信标方法检测耐利福平结核分枝杆菌rpoB基因突变点可作为结核患者快速耐药检测的初筛方法之一.     

Characterization of rifampin-resistance in pathogenic mycobacteria.

The emergence of rifampin-resistant strains of pathogenic mycobacteria has threatened the usefulness of this drug in treating mycobacterial diseases. Critical to the treatment of individuals infected with resistant strains is the rapid identification of these strains directly from clinical specimens. It has been shown that resistance to rifampin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae apparently involves mutations in the rpoB gene encoding the beta-subunit of the RNA polymerases of these species. DNA sequences were obtained from a 305-bp fragment of the rpoB gene from 110 rifampin-resistant and 10 rifampin-susceptible strains of M. tuberculosis from diverse geographical regions throughout the world. In 102 of 110 rifampin-resistant strains 16 mutations affecting 13 amino acids were observed. No mutations were observed in rifampin-susceptible strains. No association was found between particular mutations in the rpoB gene and drug susceptibility patterns of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains from the same outbreak and exhibiting the same IS6110 DNA fingerprint and drug susceptibility pattern contained the same mutation in the rpoB gene. However, mutations are not correlated with IS6110 profiling outside of epidemics. The evolution of rifampin resistance as a consequence of mutations in the rpoB gene was documented in a patient who developed rifampin resistance during the course of treatment. Rifampin-resistant strains of M. leprae, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium africanum contained mutations in the rpoB gene similar to that documented for M. tuberculosis. This information served as the basis for developing a rapid DNA diagnostic assay (PCR-heteroduplex formation) for the detection of rifampin susceptibility of M. tuberculosis.