title: Transposition rates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns.
abstract: To determine the rate at which IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns in Mycobacterium tuberculosis change over time, we applied a smooth nonparametric survival model to several data sets, including data from previous publications on the rate of change. The results strongly suggest a simple parametric model, with an instantaneous change at time zero and essentially a zero rate of change thereafter. Our interpretation of the results is that at the time of collection of the first isolate, more than one strain is present. We speculate that the selection of mutant strains is most likely during rapid growth, revival of the dormant bacteria, and/or adaptation to a new host. The parameter most accurately describing changing RFLP patterns is the proportion of isolates with band changes, rather than the half-life or the rate of change.
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Statistics, P.O. Box 9604, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. p.eilers@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Paul H C
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Eilers
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Soolingen
authors.forename: Nguyen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thi Ngoc Lan
authors.forename: Rob M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Martien W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Borgdorff
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements