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Updated: May 24, 2026

Matrix-based DNA Extraction for Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing on Decontaminated Sputum Samples
Published on: June 6, 2025
Real-time molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis by direct genotyping of smear-positive clinical specimens
María Alonso1, Marta Herranz, Miguel Martínez Lirola
1Servicio de Microbiología y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
We applied MIRU-VNTR (mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit-variable-number tandem-repeat typing) to directly analyze the bacilli present in 61 stain-positive specimens from tuberculosis patients. A complete MIRU type (24 loci) was obtained for all but one (no amplification in one locus) of the specimens (98.4%), and the allelic values fully correlated with those obtained from the corresponding cultures. Our study is the first to demonstrate that real-time genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be achieved, fully transforming the way in which molecular epidemiology techniques can be integrated into control programs.
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