title: Mutations in putative mutator genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of the W-Beijing family.
abstract: Alterations in genes involved in the repair of DNA mutations (mut genes) result in an increased mutation frequency and better adaptability of the bacterium to stressful conditions. W-Beijing genotype strains displayed unique missense alterations in three putative mut genes, including two of the mutT type (Rv3908 and mutT2) and ogt. These polymorphisms were found to be characteristic and unique to W-Beijing phylogenetic lineage. Analysis of the mut genes in 55 representative W-Beijing isolates suggests a sequential acquisition of the mutations, elucidating a plausible pathway of the molecular evolution of this clonal family. The acquisition of mut genes may explain in part the ability of the isolates of W-Beijing type to rapidly adapt to their environment.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi-Rad
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bifani
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samper
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rauzier
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kreiswirth
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blazquez
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jouan
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Soolingen
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gicquel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000235:genetics; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology