Mycobacterium tuberculosis embB codon 306 mutations confer moderately increased resistance to ethambutol in vitro and in vivo

Ethambutol (EMB) is a major component of the first-line therapy of tuberculosis. Mutations in codon 306 of embB (embB306) were suggested as a major resistance mechanism in clinical isolates. To directly analyze the impact of individual embB306 mutations on EMB resistance, we used allelic exchange experiments to generate embB306 mutants of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The level of EMB resistance conferred by particular mutations was measured in vitro and in vivo after EMB therapy by daily gavage in a mouse model of aerogenic tuberculosis. The wild-type embB306 ATG codon was replaced by embB306 ATC, ATA, or GTG, respectively. All of the obtained embB306 mutants exhibited a 2- to 4-fold increase in EMB MIC compared to the wild-type H37Rv. In vivo, the one selected embB306 GTG mutant required a higher dose of ethambutol to restrict its growth in the lung compared to wild-type H37Rv. These experiments demonstrate that embB306 point mutations enhance the EMB MIC in vitro to a moderate, but significant extent, and reduce the efficacy of EMB treatment in the animal model. We propose that conventional EMB susceptibility testing, in combination with embB306 genotyping, may guide dose adjustment to avoid clinical treatment failure in these low-level resistant strains.     

Association between embB codon 306 mutations and drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

embB306 mutants were detected in both ethambutol (EMB)-resistant and EMB-susceptible strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains had a higher proportion of embB306 mutants than non-MDR strains (odds ratio, 6.78; P < 0.001). The embB306 locus is a candidate marker for rapid detection of MDR and extremely drug resistant tuberculosis.     

Transfer of embB codon 306 mutations into clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains alters susceptibility to ethambutol, isoniazid, and rifampin

Implicated as a major mechanism of ethambutol (EMB) resistance in clinical studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mutations in codon 306 of the embB gene (embB306) have also been detected in EMB-susceptible clinical isolates. Other studies have found strong associations between embB306 mutations and multidrug resistance, but not EMB resistance. We performed allelic exchange studies in EMB-susceptible and EMB-resistant clinical M. tuberculosis isolates to identify the role of embB306 mutations in any type of drug resistance. Replacing wild-type embB306 ATG from EMB-susceptible clinical M. tuberculosis strain 210 with embB306 ATA, ATC, CTG, or GTG increased the EMB MIC from 2 microg/ml to 7, 7, 8.5, and 14 microg/ml, respectively. Replacing embB306 ATC or GTG from two high-level EMB-resistant clinical strains with wild-type ATG lowered EMB MICs from 20 microg/ml or 28 microg/ml, respectively, to 3 microg/ml. All parental and isogenic mutant strains had identical isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) MICs. However, embB306 CTG mutants had growth advantages compared to strain 210 at sub-MICs of INH or RIF in monocultures and at sub-MICs of INH in competition assays. CTG mutants were also more resistant to the additive or synergistic activities of INH, RIF, or EMB used in different combinations. These results demonstrate that embB306 mutations cause an increase in the EMB MIC, a variable degree of EMB resistance, and are necessary but not sufficient for high-level EMB resistance. The unusual growth property of embB306 mutants in other antibiotics suggests that they may be amplified during treatment in humans and that a single mutation may affect antibiotic susceptibility against multiple first-line antibiotics.     

Detection of embB codon 306 mutations in ethambutol resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly from sputum samples: a low-cost, rapid approach

Substitutions of codon 306 in the gene embB are the most common mutations found in ethambutol resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The characterization of these mutations has been hampered by the need for prior cultivation of the mycobacteria, or the need for DNA sequencing, or both. Here, we describe a simple and culture-independent technique to detect embB codon 306 mutations directly from sputum samples, requiring little more than a PCR machine and a simple agarose minigel. There is no need for labelled probes or DNA sequencing. In a preliminary test of feasibility, interpretable results were obtained from 21 of 24 selected sputum samples, 12 of which were determined to contain ethambutol resistant M. tuberculosis after culture. All of six samples with embB codon 306 mutations were correctly identified. Although an exact validation of this technique is beyond the scope of this technical report, we conclude from well-known embB codon 306 mutation prevalence figures that approximately one half of EMB resistant cases could already be predicted within 2 working days, with little equipment or hands-on time needed, instead of weeks required for conventional resistance testing.     

结核分枝杆菌耐乙胺丁醇分离株embB基因突变的研究

目的 了解结核分枝杆菌耐乙胺丁醇（EMB）分离株embB基因突变情况,研究其应用价值。方法 通过聚合酶链反应－单链构象多态性（PCR－SSCP)、CPR－限制性片段长度多态性（RFLP）和PCR－直接测序技术分析102株结核分枝杆菌临床分离株embB基因。结果 以H37Rv标准株为对照,102株结核分枝杆菌临床分离株的162rDNA SSCP电泳图谱均与结核分枝杆菌标准株相同。41株药物敏感株的embB基因SSCP均泳动正常,RFLP和测序分析与对照株相同。61株耐EMB分离株可,23株（37．7％）embB基因SSCP泳动异常;8株RFLP分析异常;测序分析23株均为306位密码子突变,其EMB MICs均≥20μg/ml,其中8株为ATG→ATA或ATT突变,13株为ATG→GTG或CTG突变,后者EMB MICs均≥30μg/ml。结论 部分结核分枝杆菌耐EMB是由于其embB基因突变所致,PCR－SSCP技术可能成为测定部分结核分枝杆菌EMB耐药基因型,简便、快速的方法。     

Role of embB codon 306 mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis revisited: a novel association with broad drug resistance and IS6110 clustering rather than ethambutol resistance

Mutations at position 306 of embB (embB306) have been proposed as a marker for ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, recent reports of embB306 mutations in ethambutol-susceptible isolates caused us to question the biological role of this mutation. We tested 1,020 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates with different drug susceptibility patterns and of different geographical origins for associations between embB306 mutations, drug resistance patterns, and major genetic group. One hundred isolates (10%) contained a mutation in embB306; however, only 55 of these mutants were ethambutol resistant. Mutations in embB306 could not be uniquely associated with any particular type of drug resistance and were found in all three major genetic groups. A striking association was observed between these mutations and resistance to any drug (P < 0.001), and the association between embB306 mutations and resistance to increasing numbers of drugs was highly significant (P < 0.001 for trend). We examined the association between embB306 mutations and IS6110 clustering (as a proxy for transmission) among all drug-resistant isolates. Mutations in embB306 were significantly associated with clustering by univariate analysis (odds ratio, 2.44; P = 0.004). In a multivariate model that also included mutations in katG315, katG463, gyrA95, and kasA269, only mutations in embB306 (odds ratio, 2.14; P = 0.008) and katG315 (odds ratio, 1.99; P = 0.015) were found to be independently associated with clustering. In conclusion, embB306 mutations do not cause classical ethambutol resistance but may predispose M. tuberculosis isolates to the development of resistance to increasing numbers of antibiotics and may increase the ability of drug-resistant isolates to be transmitted between subjects.     

Lack of correlation between embB mutation and ethambutol MIC in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from China

Seventy-four Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from China were subjected to drug susceptibility testing using ethambutol, isoniazid, rifampin, and ofloxacin. The results revealed that the presence of embB mutations did not correlate with ethambutol resistance but was associated with multiple-drug resistance, especially resistance to both ethambutol and rifampin.     

Novel mutations within the embB gene in ethambutol-susceptible clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Genetic analysis of the embB gene revealed mutations in 17 (68%) of 25 ethambutol (EMB) resistant isolates (M306I, M306V, M306L, Q497R) but also in 4 (20%) of 20 EMB-susceptible isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, namely, an ATG-->ATM substitution resulting in M306I, G406N, and the novel alterations M423I and A659T.     

耐多药结核分枝杆菌中embB基因突变与乙胺丁醇耐药的相关性研究

目的 研究耐多药结核分枝菌中embB基因突变与乙胺丁醇耐药的相关性. 方法 比例法检测84株耐多药结核分枝杆菌的乙胺丁醇(EMB)耐药性,基因测序检测embB基因的突变,2检验分析二者之间的相关性. 结果 84株耐多药结核分枝杆菌中有43株(51.2%)对EMB耐药,41株(48.8%)对EMB敏感,57株耐多药菌株(67.9%)的embB基因发生突变.在43株EMB耐药菌株中,embB基因突变的菌株为40株(93.0%),而41株EMB敏感菌株中,embB基因突变的菌株为17株(41.5%),embB基因在耐药菌株中的突变频率远高于敏感菌株(2=25.58,P=0.00).embB306是最常见的突变位点,其在耐药菌株的突变率也高于敏感菌株(2=12.37,P=0.00),embB基因和embB306位点检测EMB耐药的敏感度、特异度和准确性分别为93.0%和65.1%,58.5%和73.2%,76.2%和69.0%. 结论 EMB耐药的产生与embB基因和embB306突变有关,二者用于检测EMB耐药有一定的参考意义.     

embB基因突变与乙胺丁醇药敏表型及耐多药关系的研究

目的 研究结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,MTB)embB306位点及其他突变位点与乙胺丁醇(ethambutol,EMB)的耐药表型及耐多药(multidrug resistant,MDR)的关系;分析embB基因突变与EMB药敏表型及MDR的关系. 方法 对临床分离的MTB采用BD MGIT 960 SIRE试剂比例法进行药敏试验,取48株EMB耐药、46株EMB敏感但耐其他药及7株四药均敏感MTB提取核酸并扩增embB基因全序列,对扩增产物进行测序分析embB基因序列,与H37Rv标准株序列比对,分析embB基因各突变位点、形式及频率. 结果 101株MTB发现embB基因序列上有17个不同位点突变形式.53株MTB在embB基因序列上发生突变,其中46株为EMB耐药,7株为EMB敏感;embB基因野生型的MTB有48株,其中2株为EMB耐药,46株为EMB敏感;embB突变型与embB野生型的MTB之间EMB耐药率有显著性差异(x2=68.95,P＜0.01).101株MTB中MDR有51株,其中有42株发生embB突变,9株为embB基因野生型,embB基因突变率在MDR和非MDR之间有显著性差异(x2=36.9,P＜0.01). 结论 embB306位点与EMB耐药及MDR中度相关,embB基因突变与EMB耐药及耐多药结核菌(multidrug resistant-Mycobacteriumtuberculosis,MDR-TB)高度相关,embB基因突变可作为MDR-TB的检测分子标记物,指导临床用药.     

Rapid detection of ethambutol-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by PCR-RFLP targeting embB codons 306 and 497 and iniA codon 501 mutations

Mutations at embB gene codons 306 and 497 and iniA gene codon 501 occur frequently in ethambutol (EMB)-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains worldwide. The identification of these mutations in resistant strains has been achieved by labor-intensive DNA sequencing or by tedious amplification protocols followed by restriction endonuclease digestion. In this report, we describe PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based methods for determining substitutions at embB codons 306 and 497 and iniA codon 501 directly in BACTEC cultures of M. tuberculosis isolates. The wild-type and mutant alleles are revealed by easily interpretable and different RFLP patterns. The methods optimized initially on reference strains were tested directly on BACTEC cultures of 25 randomly selected clinical M. tuberculosis isolates, seven of which were determined to contain EMB-resistant strains by phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. The PCR-RFLP methods identified mutations in four of seven EMB-resistant strains with three isolates containing mutated embB codon 306 and one isolate containing mutated embB codon 497. The results of PCR-RFLP were confirmed by DNA sequencing. The worldwide prevalence figures for mutations at embB codons 306 and 497 and iniA codon 501 suggest that nearly half of EMB-resistant M. tuberculosis strains could be identified within one working day even in developing countries equipped with simple PCR technology instead of weeks required for phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. Further, since EMB resistance is also associated with multiple-drug resistance from some geographical locations, detection of EMB resistance may also lead to rapid identification of multidrug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.     

Ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: critical role of embB mutations.

Ethambutol [(S,S')-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol; EMB], is a first-line drug used to treat tuberculosis. To gain insight into the molecular basis of EMB resistance, we characterized the 10-kb embCAB locus in 16 EMB-resistant and 3 EMB-susceptible genetically distinct Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from diverse localities by automated DNA sequencing and single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis. All 19 organisms had virtually identical sequences for the entire 10-kb region. Eight EMB-resistant organisms had mutations located in codon 306 of embB that resulted in the replacement of the wild-type Met residue with Ile or Val. Automated sequence analysis of the 5' region (1,892 bp) of embB in an additional 69 EMB-resistant and 30 EMB-susceptible M. tuberculosis isolates from diverse geographic localities and representing 70 distinct IS6110 fingerprints confirmed the unique association of substitutions in amino acid residue 306 of EmbB with EMB resistance. Six other embB nucleotide substitutions resulting in four amino acid replacements were uniquely found in resistant strains. Sixty-nine percent of epidemiologically unassociated EMB-resistant organisms had an amino acid substitution not found in susceptible strains, and most (89%) replacements occurred at amino acid residue 306 of EmbB. For strains with the Met306Leu or Met306Val replacements EMB MICs were generally higher (40 microg/ml) than those for organisms with Met306Ile substitutions (20 microg/ml). The data are consistent with the idea that amino acid substitutions in EmbB alter the drug-protein interaction and thereby cause EMB resistance.     

临床分离的结核分枝杆菌的耐药性分析

目的了解海盐县分离自肺结核病人的结核分枝杆菌耐药基因突变率及耐药情况,以利抗结核治疗中抗菌药物的合理选用。方法对痰涂片阳性的新发初治和复治肺结核病人进行痰结核分枝杆菌培养,阳性菌株采用高、低两种药物浓度,四种抗结核药物耐药性测试,同时用实时PCR法对结核分枝杆菌的耐药基因rpoB和katG突变进行检测。结果131例痰培养阳性菌株总耐药率为14.5%,其中初治耐药率7.8%,复治耐药率38.2%,对四种抗结核药物的耐药率依次为异烟肼9.2%,利福平4.6%,链霉素4.6%,乙胺丁醇0.8%。耐药基因检测结果,在初治组中rpoB和katG的突变率为12.7%(13/102)和10.8%(11/102)。复治组中rpoB和katG的突变率为31.0%(9/29)和20.7%(6/29)。结论本地区分离自结核病人的结核分枝杆菌在初始治疗时已存在耐药性,而药物治疗有可能使其耐药性增加。结果表明抗结核治疗前及在治疗过程中对结核分枝杆菌进行耐药性及耐药基因检测很有意义。     

embB 306位点作为耐多药结核分枝杆菌分子检测标记初探

目的 研究embB基因306位点(embB 306)突变在耐多药结核分枝杆菌中的分布,探讨以该位点作为耐多药分子检测标记的应用前景.方法 从上海疾病预防控制中心获得其保存的已知耐药表型的结核分枝杆菌291株,使用错配PCR及DNA测序两种方法检测其embB 306位点的突变,分析耐药表型与结核分枝杆菌embB 306位点的突变的相关性.结果 74株耐多药菌株中有38株(51.4%)该位点有突变(X2=93.8,P<0.01),而其他24株多耐药菌株中有9株(37.5%)为embB 306突变株(X2=60.1,P<0.01);41株耐单药菌株中仅有2株(4.9%)存在该位点的突变(X2=6.8,P=0.0093),而152株全敏感菌株中无一存在该位点突变.以embB 306位点作为耐多药结核分枝杆菌(MDR-TB)分子检测标记的特异度达94.9%(206/217).结论 以embB 306作为耐药突变位点,特别是耐多药结核分枝杆菌的分子检测标记,具有一定的灵敏度和较高的特异度,而且检测方法简单易行,可用于耐多药结核分枝杆菌的临床快速检测.     

青岛地区结核分枝杆菌embB306基因突变特征与乙胺丁醇耐药的关系

目的：探讨青岛地区结核分枝杆菌 embB306突变特征与乙胺丁醇耐药的关系。方法应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）-DNA 测序法对来自青岛地区36株乙胺丁醇耐药和48株乙胺丁醇敏感的结核分枝杆菌的 embB 基因片段进行分析。结果48株乙胺丁醇敏感菌株中均未发生 embB306突变,而36株乙胺丁醇耐药菌株中有20株发生了embB306突变,突变率为55．6％;embB306突变在乙胺丁醇敏感菌株和乙胺丁醇耐药菌株中的分布差异具有统计学意义（χ2＝35．000,P ＜0．01）。结论在青岛地区,embB306的突变是青岛地区结核分枝杆菌对乙胺丁醇耐药的主要机制。     

耐左氧氟沙星结核分枝杆菌gyrA基因上新的突变位点

目的:分析耐左氧氟沙星结核分枝杆菌临床菌株gyrA基因的突变情况及其耐药机制.方法:用聚合酶链反应(PER)和DNA直接测序技术(DS)测定64株耐左氧氟沙星结核分枝杆菌gyrA基因的QRDR(quinolone resistance-determining regions)序列.结果:64株耐药菌株有47株QRDR序列发生突变,其中45株为单位点突变,另2株为双位点突变;突变分布为70位突变2株、89位1株、90位12株、91位4株、94位30株,其中70位和89位为新发现的突变位点.结论:结核分枝杆菌喹诺酮类药物耐受现象与gyrA基因QRDR的突变有关,包括新发现的70位和89位突变.     

Molecular genetic analysis of nucleotide polymorphisms associated with ethambutol resistance in human isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Ethambutol (EMB) is a central component of drug regimens used worldwide for the treatment of tuberculosis. To gain insight into the molecular genetic basis of EMB resistance, approximately 2 Mb of five chromosomal regions with 12 genes in 75 epidemiologically unassociated EMB-resistant and 33 EMB-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from human patients were sequenced. Seventy-six percent of EMB-resistant organisms had an amino acid replacement or other molecular change not found in EMB-susceptible strains. Thirty-eight (51%) EMB-resistant isolates had a resistance-associated mutation in only 1 of the 12 genes sequenced. Nineteen EMB-resistant isolates had resistance-associated nucleotide changes that conferred amino acid replacements or upstream potential regulatory region mutations in two or more genes. Most isolates (68%) with resistance-associated mutations in a single gene had nucleotide changes in embB, a gene encoding an arabinosyltransferase involved in cell wall biosynthesis. The majority of these mutations resulted in amino acid replacements at position 306 or 406 of EmbB. Resistance-associated mutations were also identified in several genes recently shown to be upregulated in response to exposure of M. tuberculosis to EMB in vitro, including genes in the iniA operon. Approximately one-fourth of the organisms studied lacked mutations inferred to participate in EMB resistance, a result indicating that one or more genes that mediate resistance to this drug remain to be discovered. Taken together, the results indicate that there are multiple molecular pathways to the EMB resistance phenotype.     

耐吡嗪酰胺结核分枝杆菌基因突变研究

目的 研究吡嗪酰胺酶编码基因pncA突变与结核分枝杆菌吡嗪酰胺(pyrazinamide,PZA)耐药的关系.方法 将临床分离的36株结核分枝杆菌进行常规PZA药敏试验和pncA基因序列分析.采用绝对浓度法进行PZA药敏试验;PCR扩增pncA基因及其上游、下游碱基序列,纯化回收PCR产物克隆到T载体并进行全自动测序.结果 36株临床分离株中25株PZA耐药,11株PZA敏感.5株高耐PZA(PZA浓度为250 μg/ml)临床分离株4株pncA基因突变;20株低耐PZA(PZA浓度为50 μg/ml)6株pncA基因突变;25株耐PZA结核分枝杆菌pncA基因突变率为40.0%.3株PZA敏感临床分离株pncA基因出现突变、其中2株为同义突变.11株耐PZA结核分枝杆菌pncA基因上游调控序列突变,其中5株同时有pncA基因突变;2株PZA敏感结核分枝杆菌pncA基因上游序列突变.结论 pncA基因突变可引起结核分枝杆菌对PZA耐药,但pncA基因突变只是结核分枝杆菌耐PZA的一种机制,可能还存在PZA的其他耐药机制.     

Determination of ethambutol MICs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium isolates by resazurin microtitre assay

OBJECTIVES: To test susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates to ethambutol by the L?wenstein-Jensen (LJ) proportion method and resazurin microtitre assay (REMA) and to evaluate REMA for the determination of ethambutol MICs for MTB and Mycobacterium avium isolates. METHODS: A total of 50 MTB and 20 M. avium isolates were tested to determine the MICs of ethambutol by REMA and agar dilution method. MTB isolates were also tested by the LJ proportion method. RESULTS: REMA provided ethambutol susceptibility results for all the isolates within 8-9 days. For MTB isolates, REMA showed 96.7% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity and 98.0% accuracy when LJ proportion results were taken as 'gold standard'. For both MTB and M. avium isolates, the MICs determined by REMA were lower than those determined in agar medium, indicating that MIC values determined by REMA are closer to the actual MICs for the isolates. CONCLUSIONS: REMA can be used as a rapid and inexpensive method for mycobacterial drug susceptibility testing against ethambutol. In comparison with the agar method, the MICs determined by REMA can more accurately be correlated with achievable plasma concentrations of antimycobacterial agents.