title: Reverse line probe assay for the rapid detection of rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: Mutations in the rpoB gene of 40 biopsy isolates of Mycobacterium leprae were analyzed by reverse hybridization-based line probe assay after PCR, and nine distinct single-nucleotide substitutions were found. Among them, a 3-nucleotide substitution was found in two, and 2-nucleotide substitutions were found in seven isolates. This is a new finding of multiple mutations in a single point of the rpoB gene for rifampicin resistance. This investigation demonstrates that the pattern of mutations in the rpoB gene for rifampicin resistance in Nepal involves more variety.
authors.affiliation: Leprosy Mission Nepal, Mycobacterial Research Laboratory, Anandaban Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Bishwa Raj
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Sapkota
authors.forename: Chaman
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ranjit
authors.forename: Murdo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001706:Biopsy; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D012293:Rifampin