Detection of an integrase gene in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract

Introduction: Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is caused by many mechanisms. Integrons are genetic units characterized by their ability to capture and incorporate bacterial genomes by recombination and may contain resistance-related genes. Integrons have an integrase gene (int). The aim of this work is to report a new integrase gene that was not reported in the GeneBank earlier. Materials and Methods: Susceptible, drug-resistant clinical isolates and H37Rv strain underwent DNA extraction. Integron of Mycobacterium abscessus structure was used as a template. The needed primers were designed for a walking method in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Resulted fragments were sequenced for confirmation of the fragments. Results: Results of the sequencing method revealed that the newfound integrase is not in the GeneBank and was not reported earlier. Its sequence differed from former reported integrases like PhiRv1 integrase (Rv2659c), RVBD_2646 integrase, Rv2309c, CCDC5180_0965 integrase, Rv2894c, etc. Conclusion: This study reports a novel integrase. These studies need to be continued for probable relationship between the whole fragment and resistance genes in the bacterium.

Keywords

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Clinical isolates
• Integrase gene