聚合酶链反应-反向斑点杂交鉴定分枝杆菌菌种

目的 建立一种简便、快速、敏感和特异的分枝杆菌菌种鉴定方法。方法以１６ＳｒＤＮＡ为靶序列,采用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）－反向斑点杂交检测２５种分枝杆菌１１种分枝杆菌标准株、１２０株分枝杆菌临床分离株和２６份痰标本。结果 分枝杆菌、非分枝杆菌标准株经ＤＮＡ扩增,分枝杆菌均出现５７８ｂｐＤＮＡ片段,非分枝杆菌除假白喉棒状杆菌可见同样片段外,其余菌种均未见扩增。敏感性试验可检测出１００ｆｇ结核分枝杆菌ＤＮ     

Non-radioactive DNA probe for the rapid identification of Mycobacterium avium complex from clinical specimens.

We evaluated an alkaline phosphatase labelled oligonucleotide probe (SNAP(TM), Syngene Co., Molecular Biosystems, Inc., San Diego CA) for the direct culture identification of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) isolated from clinical specimens. Mycobacterial species identified by conventional biochemical methods were retested with this DNA probe using the Centri-Dot(TM) format. The probe accurately identified all 69 pigmented M. avium complex and 15 non-pigmented isolates of M. avium complex. There were no false-positives with 45 non-MAC mycobacteria isolates (10 species) and 16 non-mycobacteria organisms (10 species). The sensitivity and specificity of the SNAP(TM) culture identification for M. avium complex were 100%. The alkaline phosphatase labelled DNA probe is stable for at least 9 months. The procedure can be completed within 2 h and is easily adapted in the clinical laboratory. For the strains encountered in our laboratory, we conclude that the SNAP(TM) hybridization is a rapid, specific, and reliable method for culture identification of M. avium complex.     

Speciation of organisms within the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare-Mycobacterium scrofulaceum (MAIS) complex based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms

A DNA probe which hybridizes to all pathogenic species of slow-growing mycobacteria has been used to identify restriction-fragment-length-polymorphisms (RFLPs) in Bam Hl digests of chromosomal DNA from members of the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare-Mycobacterium scrofulaceum complex. The RFLP patterns so produced were found to fall into distinct categories which were representative of each of the three species. Except for two doubtful isolates, strains of M. avium were found to fall into two related RFLP-types, one of which contained the vast majority of the strains tested. In contrast, M. intracellulare strains were found to be more heterogeneous. For these strains, we found one major RFLP-type and one subsidiary type which appears to be a sub-set of the first. We also found two further RFLP-types which contained serovars 7 and 18 respectively. We conclude from this that M. avium, M. intracellulare and M. scrofulaceum are three distinct species and that serovars belonging to the 'intermediate group' of Meissner and Anz belong to the species M. avium. Utilizing these criteria, we examined a number of isolates from the 'ambiguous' serovar 9 and found that of eight strains tested, six typed as M. avium and two typed as M. intracellulare.     

Isolation and characterizations of clarithromycin-resistant Mycobacterium avium clinical isolates

Mycobacterium avium is an important intracellular pathogen, particularly in AIDS patients. It also shows the second frequency among nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in Korea. Point mutations of domain V region of the 23S rRNA gene has been known to confer clarithromycin resistance to M. avium. In order to isolate the clarithromycin-resistant strains from clinical isolates of M. avium and characterize them, we isolated the clarithromycin-resistant strains from clinical isolates of M. avium using reverse hybridization assay (RHA) and broth microdilution test (BMT). Three clarithromycin-resistant isolates with high level of MICs were found from 274 clinical isolates by BMT. Two of three resistant strains were also found by RHA, which revealed point mutations in the domain V region of the 23S rRNA. We report here clarithromycin-resistant clinical isolates of M. avium with the different characteristics from those of the resistant strains reported from earlier studies.     

Improved detection of Mycobacterium avium complex with the Bactec radiometric system

A reconsideration of the laboratory methods used for primary isolation of mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis is needed due to the increasingly recognized importance of such mycobacterial infections in immunocompromised patients. One example of this is the severe opportunistic infections caused by Mycobacterium avium complex among AIDS patients. In this study, the Bactec radiometric system was compared to conventional culture on solid medium for the detection of M. avium complex in 3,612 selected clinical specimens, mainly of extrapulmonary origin. Of a total number of 63 M. avium complex isolates, the Bactec system detected 58 (92%), compared to 37 (59%) for conventional culture. A much more rapid detection was attained with radiometric technique than with conventional culture. The mean detection time for the cultures positive with both methods was 7.1 and 28.3 days, respectively. The Bactec radiometric system achieves a rapid and significantly more sensitive detection and seems to be an excellent complement to conventional culture in the laboratory diagnosis of infections with the M. avium complex.     

不同分子生物学方法快速鉴别非结核分枝杆菌的应用评价

目的 评价3种分子生物学方法快速鉴定非结核分枝杆菌的优缺点.方法 收集41株临床分离的非结核分枝杆菌,以16S rRNA基因测序方法为标准,同时以hsp65基因测序方法及PCR-RFLP方法鉴定菌株,与16S rRNA基因测序结果进行比较.结果 41株非结核分枝杆菌16SrRNA基因测序结果:9株龟分枝杆菌复合群,7株偶发分枝杆菌,7株胞内分枝杆菌,3株鸟分枝杆菌,3株堪萨斯分枝杆菌复合群,3株耻垢分枝杆菌,3株土分枝杆菌,2株草分枝杆菌,2株无色分枝杆菌,1株瘰疬分枝杆菌,1株M.arupense.与16S rRNA基因测序相比较,hs65 PCR-RFLP能鉴定9株龟分枝杆菌复合群至亚种脓肿分枝杆菌,3株堪萨斯分枝杆菌复合群鉴定至亚种堪萨斯分枝杆菌;1株偶发分枝杆菌及1株无色分枝杆菌与其不符;其余菌株鉴定结果一致,符合率为95.1%(39/41).hsp65基因测序结果显示,1株爱尔兰分枝杆菌与16S rRNA测序结果不符,其余菌株鉴定结果与其一致,符合率为97.6%(40/41),并且能进一步将9株龟分枝杆菌复合群鉴定至亚种脓肿分枝杆菌,3株堪萨斯分枝杆菌复合群鉴定至亚种堪萨斯分枝杆菌.结论 3种方法均能快速鉴定非结核分枝杆菌.与16S rRNA基因测序相比,hsp65基因测序及hsp65 PCR-RFLP更容易鉴定临床最常见非结核分枝杆菌(如堪萨斯分枝杆菌和脓肿分枝杆菌),可在临床推广使用.     

Comparative evaluation of polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis: two amplified targets, hsp65 and rpoB, for identification of cultured mycobacteria

The increasing incidence of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections due to AIDS epidemic resulted in the need of rapid and accurate identification of isolated mycobacteria. The correct identification result leads to the selection of an appropriate therapeutic regimen. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis (PCR-REA) has been developed since 1992 and used as the rapid method for identifying mycobacteria. Several genes or sequences have been used as an amplified target for PCR-REA. The present study aims to evaluate the potential use of PCR-REA of gene-encoding heat shock protein 65 kDa (hsp65) and beta-subunit RNA polymerase (rpoB) for the identification of mycobacteria compared with conventional biochemical identification. Two hundreds clinical isolates, consisting of 50 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 150 isolates of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), were submitted for identification using PCR-REA and biochemical method. The results demonstrated that PCR-REA identified 188 isolates of both M. tuberculosis and NTM concordantly with biochemical identification. Discordant identification results obtained from 12 isolates, comprised of 8 M. scrofulaceum, 1 M. avium complex, 1 M. malmoense, 1 M. terrae complex, and 1 M. chelonae/abscessus. Overall, the concordant percentage of results obtained from PCR-REA compared with biochemical method was 100%, 98.8%, and 83.3% for M. tuberculosis complex, rapidly growing, and slowly growing mycobacteria, respectively, and the results of hsp65 PCR-REA was in agreement with those obtained from rpoB PCR-REA. From this study, PCR-REA appears to be a simple, rapid, and reliable method for identifying mycobacteria in a routine microbiology laboratory.     

Evaluation of Syngene DNA-DNA probe assays for the identification of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and the Mycobacterium avium complex.

Two hundred mycobacterial cultures were used to evaluate two alkaline-phosphatase-labeled DNA probe (SNAP) kits developed by Syngene (San Diego, CA) for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and M. avium complex. The M. tuberculosis complex SNAP probe, when compared with standard biochemical identification tests, gave results that were in agreement at 100% sensitivity and 98.7% specificity. Ninety-nine M. avium complex strains that were previously tested by the Gen-Probe M. avium complex probe assays and mycolic acid analysis were included to evaluate the M. avium complex SNAP assay which contained three probes, A (avium), I (intracellulare), and X. Eight strains identified as members of the M. avium complex by biochemical tests did not react with the three SNAP probes. These strains were also negative by the Gen-Probe assays. However, 23 strains identified as M. avium complex by biochemical tests and mycolic acid analysis and negative with the Gen-Probe assays gave positive results with the X probe and negative results with the A and I probes of the SNAP assay.     

Heteroduplex mobility assay for rapid, sensitive and specific detection of mycobacteria

We report an improved method for the detection and identification of mycobacteria using PCR and the heteroduplex mobility shift assay (HMA). The HMA for detection of mycobacteria was based on the microheterogeneity within the DNA coding sequences for 16S rRNA. A remarkable shift between single-stranded, heteroduplex and homoduplex bands in PAGE was observed among the Mycobacterium spp. tested. The Mycobacteria HMA (MHMA) of amplified PCR products from mycobacteria DNA coding for 16S rDNA derived from culture showed a specific heteroduplexes formed among different Mycobacterium species. Other bacterium species were distinguished from Mycobaterium due to slow migrating heteroduplexes mobility bands observed when M. bovis (BCG), M. avium, or M. fortuitum were used as a standard. The specific heteroduplexes were detected when as little as 1 etag of DNA template was used, although better results were obtained with 5 etag and when PCR products of sample test and mycobacterium standard were mixed at a ratio of 1.8. To correctly evaluate the feasibility of using MHMA to detect and identify mycobacteria, 15 clinical sample patients were tested. All MTB-positive clinical samples were identified by MHMA as well as the negative samples. In addition, MHMA will, in principle, be applicable to the detection and classification of any microorganism showing differences within the 16S rRNA as well as to the identification of new and unrecognized bacterial species.     

In vitro activities of free and liposomal drugs against Mycobacterium avium-M. intracellulare complex and M. tuberculosis.

We compared MICs and MBCs of various free- and liposome-incorporated antimicrobial agents against several patient isolates of Mycobacterium avium-M. intracellulare complex and certain American Type Culture Collection strains of M. avium, M. intracellulare, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Seven of 19 agents were selected for incorporation into liposomes. The MICs of these agents for 50 and 90% of isolates tested (MIC50s and MIC90s, respectively) ranged from 0.5 to 62 micrograms/ml. Members of the M. avium-M. intracellulare complex were resistant to killing by most of the other agents tested in the free form. However, clofazimine, resorcinomycin A, and PD 117558 showed complete killing of bacteria at concentrations ranging from 8 to 31 micrograms/ml, represented as MBC90s. Among the liposome-incorporated agents, clofazimine and resorcinomycin A had the highest killing effects (MBC90s, 8 and 16 micrograms/ml, respectively). Furthermore, both free and liposome-incorporated clofazimine had equivalent growth-inhibitory and killing effects on all American Type Culture Collection strains of M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. tuberculosis tested. These results show that the antibacterial activities of certain drugs, particularly those of clofazimine and resorcinomycin, were maintained after the drugs were incorporated into liposomes.     

自贡市非结核分枝杆菌临床分离株的菌种鉴定结果分析

目的 对自贡市35株疑似非结核分枝杆菌（NTM）临床分离株进行菌种鉴定。方法 从自贡市各区（县）及市结核病防治获得的临床分枝杆菌分离株,通过罗氏培养基（L-J）、对硝基苯甲酸（PNB）和噻吩-2-羧酸肼（TCH）鉴别培养基初步鉴定为NTM,再经多位点PCR方法确定为NTM后,对rpoB、hsp64及its基因进行测序及分析鉴定。结果 35株疑似NTM临床分离株,通过初步鉴别,多位点PCR,rpoB、hsp64及its基因测序及分析鉴别出32株NTM,分别为脓肿分枝杆菌（M. abscessus）11株、胞内分枝杆菌（M. intracellulare）7株、堪萨斯分枝杆菌（M. kansasii）5株、鸟分枝杆菌（M. avium）3株、脓毒分枝杆菌（M. septicum）1株、马赛分枝杆菌（M. masseillense）1株、戈登分枝杆菌（M. gordonae）2株、副瘰疬分枝杆菌（M. parascrofulaceum）1株和Mycobacterium peregrinum 1株。结论 抗酸染色阳性、PNB/TCH鉴定为NTM的临床分离株中包含不同种类的NTM,自贡市NTM肺病的病原种类较多,以快生长脓肿分枝杆菌为主,其次为慢生长不产色菌的胞内分枝杆菌和缓慢生长光产色菌的堪萨斯分枝杆菌。实验室应开展进一步菌种鉴定,以指导临床正确诊断和合理治疗。     

Evaluation of the accuracy and reproducibility of a practical PCR panel assay for rapid detection and differentiation of Mycobacterium avium subspecies

The Mycobacterium avium subspecies (MAs) include the closely related MAs avium and MAs paratuberculosis. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of a PCR panel assay as a diagnostic tool to detect and differentiate MAs avium and MAs paratuberculosis infection. Specific oligonucleotides primers derived from the 16 S rRNA (MAs) sequence, insertion elements IS 901 (MAs avium), IS 1245 Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), IS 900 (MAs paratuberculosis), and the hspX (MAs paratuberculosis) gene sequences were synthesized and used in preassembled PCR reaction mixtures. These five primer sets made up the PCR panel assay. To determine the accuracy of the PCR panel assay for MAs avium and MAs paratuberculosis strain detection and differentiation, lysates of mycobacterial DNA from 120 (n=120) strains were tested with the PCR panel assay by one laboratory (#1). The PCR panel assay specifically detected and differentiated 91/91 (100%) of MAs avium and MAs paratuberculosis strains tested in this study. The PCR panel assay also specifically differentiated all MAs avium and MAs paratuberculosis strains from all but one (M. intracellulare, serovar 23) of the other mycobacterial strains tested. To confirm the accuracy and evaluate the reproducibility of the PCR panel assay, samples were numbered and given to a different laboratory (#2) as 'unknowns' for identification by the PCR panel assay. In this study, the overall accuracy for strain identification using the PCR panel assay was 99.2% (119/120). The reproducibility of the PCR panel assay when comparing data from laboratory #1 with laboratory #2 was found to be 100% (120/120). These results indicate that this 'easy-to-use', rapid PCR method can accurately and reliably detect and differentiate closely related MAs avium and MAs paratuberculosis from each other and from other mycobacterial species. The PCR panel assay can also differentiate mixed cultures of MAs. The simplicity of this PCR method could be beneficial to laboratories that test for members of MA.     

Streptomycin resistance in mycobacteria.

Streptomycin, the first antibiotic used in tuberculosis control programs, perturbs protein synthesis at the ribosome level. It is shown here that streptomycin resistance in some clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated either with missense mutations in the rpsL gene, which encodes ribosomal protein S12, or with base substitutions at position 904 in the 16S rRNA. The primary structure of the S12 protein is well conserved among the mycobacteria, even those, such as M. avium, M. gordonae, and M. szulgai, that are naturally resistant to streptomycin. This suggests that permeability barriers may be responsible for the resistance to the antibiotic.     

Mycobacteremia caused by simultaneous infection with Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare detected by analysis of a BACTEC 13A bottle with the Gen-Probe kit

Simultaneous infection with Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare in an AIDS patient was suspected after direct analysis of two BACTEC 13A blood cultures with the Gen-Probe kit for M. avium complex. A mixed infection was confirmed by evaluating isolated colonies. The Gen-Probe kit may provide a simple technique for detecting mixed M. avium-M. intracellulare infections.     

2019年北京地区某医院非结核分枝杆菌菌种鉴定结果分析

目的研究该院2019年收治人群检出非结核分枝杆菌(NTM)菌种分布情况,以指导临床诊断。方法收集该院2019年咳出痰、肺泡灌洗液等样本分离出来的NTM,菌种鉴定统一采用16S rRNA和hsp65基因片段测序。同时,收集患者γ-干扰素释放试验(IGRA)结果,对IGRA在不同NTM感染中的水平变化进行分析。结果研究期间检出NTM样本183份,同一患者多次检出同一种NTM按1份统计。患者中男性47.0%(86/183),女性53.0%(97/183);青年组(20~<45岁)19人,中年组(45~<65岁)67人,老年组(≥65岁)97人;菌种鉴定结果显示共检出17种NTM,菌种分布构成比前4位为胞内分枝杆菌54.6%(100/183)、脓肿分枝杆菌12.0%(22/183)、鸟分枝杆菌9.3%(17/183)、堪萨斯分枝杆菌4.4%(8/183)。老年组检出NTM 97人(53.0%),其中男性占43.3%,女性占56.7%。183人中有120人进行IGRA检测,阳性率27.5%(33/120)。快生长分枝杆菌组与慢生长分枝杆菌组的IGRA结果阴、阳性比较,差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.252,P=0.616)。结论NTM所致感染中,以胞内分枝杆菌、脓肿分枝杆菌为主要致病菌,尤其好发于年龄大于或等于65岁的老年人,IGRA检测结果对于NTM感染无明确诊断价值。     

Activity of capuramycin analogues against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare in vitro and in vivo

OBJECTIVES: The antimycobacterial activities of RS-112997, RS-124922 and RS-118641, three capuramycin analogues that inhibit phospho-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide translocase, were tested against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. METHODS AND RESULTS: MICs were determined by the broth microdilution method using a modified Middlebrook 7H9 broth. RS-118641 was the most potent compound overall. The MIC50/90 (mg/L) results for RS-118641 were: M. tuberculosis, 1/2; multidrug-resistant (MDR) M. tuberculosis, 0.5/2; M. avium, 4/8; and M. intracellulare, 0.06/0.5. No statistically significant differences in MIC distributions were observed between non-MDR and MDR M. tuberculosis for any of the capuramycin analogues tested. In order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RS-112997 and RS-124922 in a murine lung model of tuberculosis, both compounds were administered intranasally at 0.1 or 1 mg/mouse/day for 12 days. The mycobacterial load in the lungs was significantly lower in all treatment groups than in the untreated controls. Additional experiments were performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the three compounds against the M. intracellulare infection in mice. All compounds were administered intranasally at 0.1 mg/mouse/day for 21 days. The mycobacterial load in the lungs was significantly lower in all treatment groups than in the untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that capuramycin analogues exhibit strong antimycobacterial potential and should be considered for further evaluation in the treatment of M. tuberculosis and M. avium-M. intracellulare complex infections in humans.     

Occurrence of the IS900 gene in Mycobacterium avium complex derived from HIV patients.

The occurrence of the insertion sequence IS900 in Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium strains isolated from HIV infected patients has been investigated. In this study, genomic DNA from 62 mycobacterial isolates [31 strains of M. avium complex (MAC) consisting of 26 M. avium subsp. avium HIV-isolates and five non-HIV isolates and 31 additional Mycobacterium species] were analysed by an IS900 -based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and Southern hybridization using a non-radioactive-labelled 251 bp DNA fragment located at the 5'-region of the IS900 sequence. As expected, none of the 28 Mycobacterium species contained the IS900 in their genomic DNA. Of the 26 M. avium subsp. avium HIV-isolates, 15 (57.6%) were strongly positive for the IS900 or IS900 related sequence. The five pulmonary non-HIV MAC isolates were negative for the IS900. As expected, the three strains of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis were positive. This PCR guided study suggest that the IS900 gene is very common in clinical strains of M. avium subsp. avium especially those isolated from HIV patients. Ultimately the IS900 PCR-based assay may provide a useful tool for diagnostic and epidemiological studies related to MAC infections in HIV patients.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of benzoxazinorifamycin, KRM-1648, against Mycobacterium avium complex, determined by the radiometric method.

MICs of a newly developed benzoxazinorifamycin derivative, KRM-1648, for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) were determined by the BACTEC 460 TB system and compared with those of other known antimicrobial agents. The radiometric method gave a fast, accurate, and reproducible MIC for each antimicrobial agent. MICs of KRM-1648 for 30 strains of MAC (10 strains each of M. avium isolated from AIDS and non-AIDS patients and of Mycobacterium intracellulare isolated from non-AIDS patients) were measured. The MICs, ranging from 0.004 to 0.0625 microgram/ml, were the lowest of all tested drugs, including rifampin, rifabutin, streptomycin, kanamycin, isoniazid, ethambutol, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and clarithromycin. The MICs were 2 to 512 and 1 to 32 times lower than those of rifampin and rifabutin, respectively. With rifampin and ethambutol, there were some differences between the MICs for M. avium isolated from AIDS patients (American) and those for M. avium from non-AIDS patients (Japanese). Moreover, appreciable differences between the MICs of some drugs against M. avium and M. intracellulare isolated from non-AIDS patients were found. Many strains of M. avium were more susceptible to ofloxacin than M. intracellulare, but, conversely, M. avium was more resistant to rifampin, streptomycin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin than M. intracellulare.     

Comparative antimycobacterial activities of ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and grepafloxacin.

Infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis are difficult to treat. New compounds potentially active against these bacteria are therefore constantly being sought. Among them is grepafloxacin, a new C5 fluoroquinolone. A panel of 130 isolates of mycobacteria including 33 M. tuberculosis isolates and 97 isolates of different species of atypical mycobacteria were analysed for susceptibility to grepafloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The MICs of these fluoroquinolones were determined using the agar-dilution method. Different mycobacterial species showed different degrees of susceptibility to grepafloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin but little difference was observed between the MICs of the three antibiotics against strains of the same mycobacterial species. In addition, to evaluate the intracellular activity of these drugs, six strains of mycobacteria were studied using a human-macrophage infection model. Preliminary results of macrophage experiments showed that grepafloxacin was more active than ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, particularly against Mycobacterium kansasii and, to a lesser degree, against Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium marinum. However, the three fluoroquinolones had comparable activities against M. tuberculosis.     

Decolorization of malachite green and crystal violet by waterborne pathogenic mycobacteria

Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, Mycobacterium marinum, and Mycobacterium chelonae tolerate high concentrations of the dyes malachite green and crystal violet. Cells of strains of those species decolorized (reduced) both malachite green and crystal violet. Because decolorized malachite green lacked antimicrobial activity, the resistance of these mycobacteria could be due, in part, to their ability to decolorize the dyes. Small amounts of malachite green and its reduced, decolorized product were detected in the lipid fraction of M. avium strain A5 cells grown in the presence of malachite green, suggesting that a minor component of resistance could be due to sequestering the dyes in the extensive mycobacterial cell surface lipid. The membrane fraction of M. avium strain A5 had at least a fivefold-higher specific decolorization rate than did the crude extract, suggesting that the decolorization activity is membrane associated. The malachite green-decolorizing activity of the membrane fraction of M. avium strain A5 was abolished by either boiling or proteinase exposure, suggesting that the decolorizing activity was due to a protein. Decolorization activity of membrane fractions was stimulated by ferrous ion and inhibited by dinitrophenol and metyrapone.