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.     

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。     

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.     

A rifampin-hypersensitive mutant reveals differences between strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis and presence of a novel transposon, IS1623

Rifampin is a front-line antibiotic for the treatment of tuberculosis. Infections caused by rifampin- and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are difficult to treat and contribute to a poor clinical outcome. Rifampin resistance most often results from mutations in rpoB. However, some drug-resistant strains have rpoB alleles that encode the phenotype for susceptibility. Similarly, non-M. tuberculosis mycobacteria exhibit higher levels of baseline resistance to rifampin, despite the presence of rpoB alleles that encode the phenotype for susceptibility. To identify other genes involved in rifampin resistance, we generated a library of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 transposon insertion mutants. Upon screening this library, we identified one mutant that was hypersensitive to rifampin. The transposon insertion was localized to the arr gene, which encodes rifampin ADP ribosyltransferase, an enzyme able to inactivate rifampin. Sequence analysis revealed differences in the arr alleles of M. smegmatis strain mc(2)155 and previously described strain DSM 43756. The arr region of strain mc(2)155 contains a second, partial copy of the arr gene plus a novel insertion sequence, IS1623.     

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.     

结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药基因的检测

以药物敏感试验为标准，应用聚合酶链反应－单链构象多态性分析方法对６８例利福平耐药菌株和２０例利福平敏感菌株进行测定，结果８８例结核分枝杆菌均扩增出目标ＤＮＡ条带，１０例非结核分枝杆菌和８例非分枝杆菌未出现目标ＤＮＡ条带，所用引物扩增ｒｐｏＢ基因２１５ｂｐ片段为结核分枝杆菌复合群异性的。     

银染单链构象多态性技术检测结核杆菌rpoB基因突变

目的探讨分子生物学方法在临床标本结核分枝杆菌利福平（ＲＦＰ）耐药性评估中的应用价值。方法设计针对ｒｐｏＢ基因１８３ｂｐ扩增引物,运用聚合酶链反应单链构象多态性分析（ＰＣＲＳＳＣＰ）银染色方法,检测了４５株结核杆菌临床分离株,并对其中部分菌株进一步做了ＤＮＡ序列分析。结果以药敏试验结果为对照,有１６株ＲＦＰ敏感株及２６株ＲＦＰ耐药株经ＳＣＰ方法得到检测,阳性占９３．３％,特异性１００％。对部分菌株１８３ｂｐ片断测序结果显示,ＲＦＰ敏感株无ｒｐｏＢ基因突变,耐药株均发生碱基突变,分别导致编码５３１及５２６位点的氨基酸改变。结论银染ＰＣＲＳＣＰ方法具有简便,快速,准确的特点,提高敏感性,可以对临床标本结核杆菌利福平耐药突变进行鉴定。序列分析证明结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药菌株有ｒｐｏＢ基因突变。     

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。     

Prevalence of and molecular basis for tuberculosis drug resistance in the Republic of Georgia: validation of a QIAplex system for detection of drug resistance-related mutations

We developed a QIAplex system for the simultaneous detection of 24 Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene mutations responsible for resistance to isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), streptomycin (STM), and ethambutol (EMB) in 196 M. tuberculosis isolates recovered in the Republic of Georgia. In comparison to phenotypic susceptibility tests, the QIAplex showed sensitivity and specificity of 85.4% and 96.1% for INH, 94.4% and 99.4% for RIF, 69.6% and 99.2% for STM, 50.0% and 98.8% for EBM, and 86.7% and 100.0% for multidrug resistance, respectively. The dominant resistance mutations revealed were a mutation in katG resulting in S315T (katG S315T), rpsL K43R, and rpoB S531L. Mutations katG S315G and S315T and rpoB S531L were detected with higher frequencies in pretreated patients than in naive patients (P < 0.05). Simultaneous detection of 24 common drug resistance-related mutations provides a molecular tool for studying and monitoring M. tuberculosis resistance mechanism and epidemiology.     

Transmission of dapsone-resistant leprosy detected by molecular epidemiological approaches

Drug resistance surveillance identified six untreated leprosy patients in the Philippines with Mycobacterium leprae folP1 mutations which confer dapsone resistance. Five patients share a village of residence; four who carried the mutation, Thr53Val, were also linked by M. leprae variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) strain types. In India, folP1 mutations were detected in two relapse patients with a history of dapsone treatment. Mutations were not found in the rifampin target gene rpoB. These findings indicate that dapsone resistance is being transmitted.     

焦磷酸测序技术检测结核分枝杆菌四种药物耐药性

目的 利用焦磷酸测序技术检测结核分枝杆菌对利福平、异烟肼、氧氟沙星、阿米卡星的耐药性,并对其临床应用进行评价.方法 收集上海市肺科医院2008-2009年临床确诊的肺结核患者的痰标本培养阳性结核分枝杆菌89株.所有菌株按<结核病诊断实验室检验规程>进行分枝杆菌培养、菌种鉴定.另外10株已知药敏结果的结核分枝杆菌来自上海市肺科医院菌株库.利用焦磷酸测序技术,以10株已知药敏结果和经直接测序已知耐药基因突变情况的结核分枝杆菌为试验菌株,探索焦磷酸测序检测结核分枝杆菌rpoB、katG、gyrA、rrs耐药基因的最佳模式,并用该条件检测89株结核分枝杆菌临床分离株,检测结果与Bactec 960药敏法进行比较.结果 rpoB、gyrA基因检测宜采用焦磷酸测序序列分析模式,katG、rrs基因检测宜采用焦磷酸测序单核苷酸多态性模式.以Bactec 960药敏法测定结果为判断标准,则焦磷酸测序法检测89株结核分枝杆菌临床分离株对利福平、异烟肼、氧氟沙星、阿米卡星耐药性的敏感度分别为98.0%、64.1%、79.5%、78.3%,特异度分别为97.5%、100.0%、90.0%、100.0%,准确性分别为97.8%、77.5%、85.4%、94.4%,该法检测利福平、氧氟沙星、阿米卡星的检测结果与Bactec 960药敏检测结果一致性较好,Kappa值均≥0.7.结论 焦磷酸测序技术检测结核分枝杆菌对利福平、异烟肼、氧氟沙星、阿米卡星耐药性具有快速、准确、高通量的优点,是一种可对结核分枝杆菌多种药物耐药性进行快速检测的方法.

Abstract：

Objective To develop an assay to determine Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to rifampin, isoniazid, ofloxacin and amikacin by pyrosequencing and evaluate the value of this method in clinical application. Methods Eighty-nine clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from tuberculosis patients were collected from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital during 2008 to 2009. All strains were isolated from decontaminated sputum, cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen media and identified by traditional biochemical tests with standard methods. Ten Mycobacterium tuberculosis were selected from the strain bank of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. The optimal conditions of detection of rpoB, katG, gyrA and rrs gene by pyroseuencing were determined, using the 10 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains whose drug susceptibility of Bactec 960 and sequence of rpoB, katG, gyrA, rrs gene were known. Then the drug susceptibility of 89 Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolate strains were detected by pyrosequencing using this conditions and the results were compared with that of the Bactec 960 methods. Results The pyrosequencing program of sequence analysis was suitable for the detection of the mutations of rpoB and gyrA genes, and the program of single nucleotide polymorphism was suitable for katG and rrs genes. Among the 89 Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates,when using the drug susceptibility of Bactec 960 as the standard, the sensitivity of rifampin, isoniazid,ofloxacin and amikacin is 98.0%, 64. 1%, 79.5%, 78. 3% respectively, the specificity is 97.5%,100. 0%, 90. 0%, 100. 0% respectively, the accuracy is 97.8%, 77. 5%, 85.4%, 94. 4% respectively,tested by pyrosequencing. The results of the detection of resistance to rifampin, isoniazid, ofloxacin and amikacin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using pyrosequencing technique were almost the same with that of Bactec 960, and Kappa ≥0. 7 in each detection. Conclusion Pyrosequencing is thus a rapid, accurate and high throughput method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to these four drugs.     

Molecular Characterization of Multidrug-Resistant Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Patients in North India

The World Health Organization has identified India as a major hot-spot region for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We have characterized the sequences of the loci associated with multidrug resistance in 126 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis from India to identify the respective mutations. The loci selected were rpoB (rifampin), katG and the ribosomal binding site of inhA (isoniazid), gyrA and gyrB (ofloxacin), and rpsL and rrs (streptomycin). We found known as well as novel mutations at these loci. Few of the mutations at the rpoB locus could be correlated with the drug resistance levels exhibited by the M. tuberculosis isolates and occurred with frequencies different from those reported earlier. Missense mutations at codons 526 to 531 seemed to be crucial in conferring a high degree of resistance to rifampin. We identified a common Arg463Leu substitution in the katG locus and certain novel insertions and deletions. Mutations were also mapped in the ribosomal binding site of the inhA gene. A Ser95Thr substitution in the gyrA locus was the most common mutation observed in ofloxacin-resistant isolates. A few isolates showed other mutations in this locus. Seven streptomycin-resistant isolates had a silent mutation at the lysine residue at position 121. While certain mutations are widely present, pointing to the magnitude of the polymorphisms at these loci, others are not common, suggesting diversity in the multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains prevalent in this region. Our results additionally have implications for the development of methods for multidrug resistance detection and are also relevant in the shaping of future clinical treatment regimens and drug design strategies.     

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。     

Mutation analysis of the Mycobacterium leprae folP1 gene and dapsone resistance

Diaminodiphenylsulfone (dapsone) has long been used as a first-line drug worldwide for the treatment of leprosy. Diagnosis for dapsone resistance of Mycobacterium leprae by DNA tests would be of great clinical value, but the relationship between the nucleotide substitutions and susceptibility to dapsone must be clarified before use. In this study, we constructed recombinant strains of cultivable Mycobacterium smegmatis carrying the M. leprae folP1 gene with or without a point mutation, disrupting their own folP gene on the chromosome. Dapsone susceptibilities of the recombinant bacteria were measured to examine influence of the mutations. Dapsone MICs for most of the strains with mutations at codon 53 or 55 of M. leprae folP1 were 2 to 16 times as high as the MIC for the strain with the wild-type folP1 sequence, but mutations that changed Thr to Ser at codon 53 showed somewhat lower MIC values than the wild-type sequence. Strains with mutations at codon 48 or 54 showed levels of susceptibility to dapsone comparable to the susceptibility of the strain with the wild-type sequence. This study confirmed that point mutations at codon 53 or 55 of the M. leprae folP1 gene result in dapsone resistance.     

The rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A portion of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB) was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligonucleotides and used as a hybridization probe to isolate plasmid clones carrying the entire rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis H37Rv, a virulent, rifampin-susceptible strain. Sequence analysis of a 5,084-bp SacI genomic DNA fragment revealed a 3,534-bp open reading frame encoding an 1,178-amino-acid protein with 57% identity with the Escherichia coli beta subunit. This SacI fragment also carried a portion of the rpoC gene located 43 bp downstream from the 3' end of the rpoB open reading frame; this organization is similar to that of the rpoBC operon of E. coli. The M. tuberculosis rpoB gene was cloned into the shuttle plasmid pMV261 and electroporated into the LR223 strain of Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is highly resistant to rifampin (MIC > 200 micrograms/ml). The resulting transformants were relatively rifampin susceptible (MIC = 50 micrograms/ml). Using PCR mutagenesis techniques, we introduced a specific rpoB point mutation (associated with clinical strains of rifampin-resistant M. tuberculosis) into the cloned M. tuberculosis rpoB gene and expressed this altered gene in the LR222 strain of M. smegmatis, which is susceptible to rifampin (MIC = 25 micrograms/ml). The resulting transformants were rifampin resistant (MIC = 200 micrograms/ml). The mutagenesis and expression strategy of the cloned M. tuberculosis rpoB gene that we have employed in this study will allow us to determine the rpoB mutations that are responsible for rifampin resistance in M. tuberculosis.     

Molecular basis of rifampin and isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated in Sardinia, Italy

Fourteen of 22 (68%) Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated from cattle in Sardinia were found to be resistant to rifampin and isoniazid. Analysis of the rpoB and the katG, oxyR-ahpC, and inhA gene regions of these strains was performed in order to investigate the molecular basis of rifampin and isoniazid resistance, respectively. The most frequent mutation, encountered in 6 of 10 strains (60%), was in the rpoB gene; it occurred, at codon position 521 and resulted in leucine changed to proline. This suggests that codon 521 may be important for the development of rifampin resistance in M. bovis. Resistance to isoniazid is associated in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with a variety of mutations affecting one or more genes. Our results confirm the difficulty of interpreting the sequence variations observed in clinical strains of M. bovis. M. bovis strains isolated from the same geographic area showed similar mutations within the genes responsible for rifampin and isoniazid resistance. Our results represent the first study to elucidate the molecular genetic basis of drug resistance in M. bovis isolated from cattle.     

线性探针分析法检测结核分枝杆菌rpoB耐药基因突变的研究

目的研制线性探针分析法检测结核分枝杆菌(结核菌)rpoB基因耐药突变试剂盒。方法设计15条结核菌rpoB基因野生型和突变型的线性探针，固定尼龙膜上；在rpoB基因引物上标记生物素，扩增结核菌DNA，获得生物素标记扩增产物，与rpoB基因线性探针杂交，加入标记过氧化物酶的亲合素，再加四甲基联苯胺显色。结果应用线性探针分析法检测87株结核菌，其与rpoB基因直接测序法、传统药敏法符合率分别为98．8％(82／83)和94．3％(82／87)。结论线性探针分析法检测rpoB耐药基因突变是一种操作简便、特异性高、敏感性高，易开展的方法。     

焦磷酸测序技术快速检测结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药性研究

目的利用焦磷酸测序技术，建立一种高通量结核分枝杆菌利福平耐药性快速基因检测方法。方法应用生物素标记的引物扩增rpoB基因片段，经链亲和素标记的磁珠分离制备单链模板，设计2个测序引物在焦磷酸测序仪上检测rpoB基因耐药突变区的81bp序列突变情况，与H。Rv序列比对后判断耐药结果。结果通过建立的基于焦磷酸测序技术的结核分枝杆菌rpoB基因突变检测平台，32株利福平耐药株均在rpoB基因片段上检测到突变，22株利福平敏感株未检测到突变，检测结果与直接测序符合率达100％。结论本方法可快速、准确、高通量检测结核分枝杆菌耐利福平rpoB基因突变。     

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.     

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.