Whole-genome expression analysis of Mycobacterium leprae and its clinical application

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2010 Nov;63(6):387-92.

Abstract

The whole-genome sequence analysis of Mycobacterium leprae, which was completed in 2001, revealed the characteristics of this microbe's genomic structure. Half of the M. leprae genome consists of a limited number of protein-coding genes and the rest comprises non-coding regions and pseudogenes. We performed membrane array and tiling array analyses to analyze the gene-expression profile of the M. leprae genome and found that pseudogenes and non-coding regions were expressed similarly to coding regions at the RNA level. The RNA expressions were confirmed by real-time PCR analysis. Expression of these RNAs in clinical samples showed varying patterns among patients, thus indicating that the analysis of RNA expression patterns, including non-coding regions and pseudogenes, may be useful for understanding the pathological state, prognosis, and assessment of therapeutic progress in leprosy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Genome, Bacterial* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leprosy / microbiology*
  • Leprosy / pathology*
  • Mycobacterium leprae / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium leprae / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Pseudogenes / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics
  • RNA, Untranslated / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Untranslated