Analysis of the beta-tubulin gene from Vittaforma corneae suggests benzimidazole resistance.
We amplified, cloned, and sequenced the beta-tubulin gene of Vittaforma corneae, a microsporidium causing human infections. The beta-tubulin gene sequence has a substitution at Glu(198) (with glutamine), which is one of six amino acids reported to be associated with benzimidazole sensitivity. Benzimidazoles were assayed for antimicrosporidial activity and showed poor parasite inhibition.
Department for Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Franz Josef Strauss Allee 11, 93042 Regensburg. Germany. Caspar.Franzen@Klinik.Uni-Regensburg.de
Caspar
C
Franzen
Bernd
B
Salzberger
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D021863:Vittaforma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D014404:Tubulin; C031000:benzimidazole