High resolution melting curve assay for rapid detection of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

J Infect Chemother. 2013 Dec;19(6):1116-25. doi: 10.1007/s10156-013-0636-3. Epub 2013 Jun 23.

Abstract

We developed and evaluated a high resolution melting (HRM) curve assay by using real-time PCR for the detection of the most frequent mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which are responsible for the resistance of four anti-TB drugs: rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin. The HRM assay was successfully used for the detection of dominant mutations: A516V, H526A, H526T, S531L, L533P, and A516G/S531L in rpoB; S315T, and S315A in katG; -15C/T, and -8T/C in mab-inhA; M306I in embB; K88Q and K43R in rpsL; and 513A/C in rrs. We were able to discriminate the mutant from the wild type by analyzing the melting-curve shape in 40 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates, and the results of the HRM assay were completely consistent with those of DNA sequencing. This HRM assay is a simple, rapid, and cost-effective method that can be performed in a closed tube. Therefore, our assay is a potentially useful tool for the rapid detection of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology*
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mutation
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • DNA, Bacterial