A deletion in the RD105 region confers resistance to multiple drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), especially those that are multidrug resistant poses a serious threat to global tuberculosis control. However, the mechanism underlying the occurrence of drug resistance against more than one drug is poorly understood. Given that the Beijing/W strains are associated with outbreaks and multidrug resistance, they may harbor a genetic advantage and provide useful insight into the disease. One marker found in all Beijing/W Mtb strains is a deletion of RD105 region that results in a gene fusion, Rv0071/74, with a variable number (3-9 m) of VDP (V: Val, D: Asp; P: Pro) repeats (coded by gtggacccg repeat sequences) at the N-terminal. Here, we report that this variable number of VDP repeats in Rv0071/74 regulates the development of multidrug resistance.

We collected and analyzed 1255 Beijing/W clinical strains. The results showed that the number of VDP repeats in Rv0071/74 was related to the development of multidrug resistance, and the deletion of Rv0071/74-9 m from Beijing/W clinical strain restored drug susceptibility. Rv0071/74-9 m also increased resistance to multiple drugs when transferred to different mycobacterial strains. Cell-free assays indicate that the domain carrying 4-9 VDP repeats (4-9 m) showed a variable binding affinity with peptidoglycan and Rv0071/74 cleaves peptidoglycan. Furthermore, Rv0071/74-9 m increased cell wall thickness and reduced the intracellular concentration of antibiotics.

These findings not only identify Rv0071/74 with VDP repeats as a newly identified multidrug resistance gene but also provide a new model for the development of multiple drug resistance.