title: Characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Syrian patients by double-repetitive-element polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: The role of previous treatment in the dynamics of tuberculosis transmission has not been adequately investigated. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from previously treated patients (n = 88) from all regions of Syrian Arab Republic were characterized in terms of antibiotic sensitivity and genotyping using double-repetitive-element polymerase chain reaction (DRE-PCR) method for the proximity of the repetitive DNA elements IS6110 (a mobile genetic element) and PGRS. The 88 isolates resulted in 59 different DRE-PCR patterns. Correlations related to age, sex, region, sensitivity and genotype were examined. All regions of the country showed high levels of genotype diversity, suggesting a low level of transmission of M. tuberculosis strains in previously treated patients.
authors.affiliation: National Commission for Biotechnology, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamze
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012737:Sex Factors; D013593:Syria; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult