Rifampicin-resistant meningococci causing invasive disease: detection of point mutations in the rpoB gene and molecular characterization of the strains.
Mutations in the rpoB gene affecting two amino acids were found in eight rifampicin-resistant Neisseria meningitidis group B and C strains isolated in Italy. The Asp542-->Val substitution, documented for the first time in N. meningitidis, was found in four of the isolates; the His552-->Tyr or Asn substitution in the other four resistant strains. Mutations in the mtr gene did not seem to be involved in the resistance since the same mutations occurred in both resistant and susceptible strains. Two different clusters were identified among these resistant strains, without any correlation with the specific mutations detected in the rpoB gene.
Stefanelli
P
P
Department of Bacteriology and Medical Mycology, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Fazio
C
C
La Rosa
G
G
Marianelli
C
C
Muscillo
M
M
Mastrantonio
P
P
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000235:genetics; D005602:France; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012703:Serotyping
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D010940:Plant Proteins; C101305:RpoB protein, Oryza sativa; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D012293:Rifampin