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The mtp40 gene is not present in Mycobacterium bovis
T Koivula1, S B Svenson, G Källenius
1Department of Bacteriology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, S-171 82, Solna, Sweden. tuija.koivula@smi.ki.se
Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|December 5, 2002
Summary
Two Mycobacterium strains initially identified as M. bovis possess the mtp40 gene and specific spoligotyping patterns, indicating they are M. africanum. This reclassification impacts the phylogenetic understanding of M. bovis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Mycobacterial research
Background:
- The mtp40 gene was considered specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and absent in Mycobacterium bovis.
- Previous reports identified two M. bovis strains possessing the mtp40 gene, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the classification of two clinical isolates previously identified as M. bovis.
- To clarify the phylogenetic position of M. bovis within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of whole cell lysates.
- Spoligotyping for genetic classification within the M. tuberculosis complex.
Main Results:
- The two strains possessed the mtp40 gene.
- Spoligotyping revealed spacers 40-43, typically absent in M. bovis but characteristic of M. africanum.
- The strains exhibited a spoligotyping pattern consistent with M. africanum.
Conclusions:
- The two strains previously designated as M. bovis should be reclassified as M. africanum.
- This reclassification has significant implications for the phylogenetic classification of M. bovis.