One third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB. During an infection, bacteria often survive host immune system attacks, which include oxidative stress conditions for bacteria growing inside macrophages. This makes treatment difficult and time-consuming. We hypothesize bacteria can adapt to environmental conditions by changing their mRNA maturation and degradation profiles. Using a model system, Mycobacteruim smegmatis, we focus on how mRNA expression is affected by oxidative stress. After construction and sequencing of RNA expression libraries, preliminary analysis showed that after three hours of H2O2 exposure most upregulated genes were related to DNA repair, while downregulated genes included transport proteins. After six hours of exposure, upregulated genes were similar to three hours and downregulated genes included tRNAs. 5' end mapping libraries were also constructed to access differential cleavage site abundance under oxidative stress conditions. We also investigated the roles RNase J may have in stress response and mRNA processing in Mycobacteria. RNase J and RNase E are thought to be the major RNases in bacteria. While most bacteria only have one of them, mycobacteria encode both in their genome, with RNase J being non-essential. We constructed a set of 4 strains (WT, RNase J overexpression, RNase J deletion, and complemented RNase J deletion) and tested their drug resistance and stress tolerance. Results suggests that RNase J deletion and overexpression alter drug sensitivity. Stress tolerance assays showed that WT is more tolerant to oxidative stress, followed by RNase J deletion strain and overexpression and complemented RNase J deletion strains, with the last two showing no growth when cultured with H2O2. Analysis of the expression profile of these strains was performed to help understand if gene expression differences are responsible for the phenotypes observed. For the complemented RNase J deletion, one operon had almost all its genes upregulated. This operon encodes a hydrogenase (Hyd3), suggesting that redox balance in the strain is perturbed.

"Tuberculosis is a deadly disease caused by bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. One-third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two million these deaths occur each year in immunocompromised AIDS patients. M. tuberculosis has co-evolved with humans for many thousands of years. The bacillus has developed tactics to overcome the immune defense system and multiply in the macrophage. At the interface of the host and pathogen interactions, there is an interchange of metals and electrolytes. The host on one hand reduces the availability of metals essential for pathogen survival, like manganese and iron, in the macrophage and increases potassium ions which reduces pH in the phagolysosome. The host also generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS), to create toxic affects through interactions with metals and metalloproteins. M. tuberculosis copes with the hostile environment in the macrophage by preventing the acidification of the phagolysosome, secreting antioxidant enzymes such as alkylhydroperoxidase (AhpF) and peroxiredoxin (AhpC), superoxide dismutase, SodA and SodC, and catalase KatG through the SecA system. M. tuberculosis contains 28 metal transporters, among them there are 12 unique P-type ATPases. This is an unusually high number of P-type ATPases in an organism. These ATPases transport several monovalent and divalent metals (Cu+, Cu2+, Ag+, Zn2+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, and Co2+) across biological membranes, using energy from ATP hydrolysis. Our analysis has revealed that these P-type ATPases have homologs in other intracellular symbiotic/pathogenic bacteria and certain chemolithotrophic archaea and bacteria. A corelation can hence be drawn among these pumps and the capability of surviving in noxious environments and coping with adverse redox conditions. Possible substrates were identified by determining the consensus sequences in different helices of these ATPases. However, out of the 12 P-type ATPases confirmed, transported substrate could be postulated for four of these proteins; CtpA, CtpB, CtpV and KdpB. Using bioinformatic approaches we have characterized the possible genetic environment of these genes. The transmembrane regions were analyzed for consensus sequences and the N-terminals and C-terminals were scrutinized for metal binding domains, and we were able to categorize these ATPases into P1 type and P2 type ATPases. In an attempt to determine the substrate specificity, two of these ATPases (CtpC and ctpG) were cloned and transformed into Escherichia coli cells. Cells expressing CtpC were grown in different concentrations of metals and pHs. In these experiments CtpC was found to show an interaction with copper and cadmium. Pure protein was obtained by His-tag purification and para-Nitro Phenol Phosphatase (pNPPase) assay was performed with different metals, it was found that copper and zinc activated the phosphatase activity of the enzyme; and cobalt and manganese were inhibitory. Inhibition of the pNPP assay could mean that there would be activation in the ATPase assay, meaning that cobalt and manganese could be possible substrates to this enzyme. "

Orientador: Vânia Nieto Brito de Souza / Resumo: A infecção por Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) desencadeia alterações no status funcional das células de Schwann (SCs), responsáveis pela produção da bainha de mielina e homeostasia neural. Estudos prévios indicam que lesões nos nervos periféricos modulam a expressão de fatores-chave envolvidos na diferenciação e maturação das SCs. Na hanseníase, alterações funcionais nessas células podem estar envolvidas na patogênese do dano neural. O presente estudo buscou determinar a expressão dos fatores de transcrição KROX-20, SOX-10, JUN e do receptor p75NTR, envolvidos nos processos de diferenciação e maturação de SCs. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de cultura primária de SCs murinas expostas ao M. leprae durante sete e 14 dias, com diferentes multiplicidades de infecção (MOI 100:1, MOI 50:1). Os mesmos fatores foram avaliados in vivo, em nervos ciáticos de camundongos nude (NUFoxn1nu), após seis e nove meses de infecção. Comparando-se grupos experimentais em relação aos controles, nossos resultados em cultura de SCs demonstram redução significativa de KROX-20 e SOX-10, bem como elevação na frequência de células imunomarcadas por p75NTR. Paralelamente, nervos ciáticos de camundongos nude infectados por M. leprae apresentaram queda de KROX-20 e aumento de p75NTR, quando comparados aos animais não infectados. Em conjunto, nossos resultados corroboram achados prévios sobre a interferência de M. leprae na expressão de fatores-chave envolvidos na maturação celular, favorecendo a manuten... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Mycobacterium leprae infection (M. leprae) triggers changes in the functional status of Schwann cells (SCs), which are responsible for the production of myelin sheath and neural homeostasis. Previous studies indicate that peripheral nerve injury modulates the expression of key factors involved in the differentiation and maturation of SCs. In leprosy, functional changes in these cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of neural damage. The present study sought to determine the expression of the transcription factors KROX-20, SOX-10, JUN and the neurotrophic receptor p75NTR, involved in the differentiation and maturation processes of SCs. Data were obtained from primary murine SCs culture exposed to M. leprae for seven and 14 days, with different multiplicities of infection (MOI 100:1, MOI 50:1). The same factors were evaluated in vivo on sciatic nerve of nude mice (NU-Foxn1nu), after six and nine months of infection. By comparing experimental groups versus controls, our SC culture results demonstrate significant reduction of KROX-20 and SOX-10, as well as elevation in the frequency of cells immunolabelled by p75NTR. In parallel, sciatic nerves of nude mice infected with M. leprae showed a decrease in KROX-20 and an increase of p75NTR when compared to uninfected animals. Our results corroborate previous findings on M. leprae interference in the expression of key factors involved in cell maturation, favoring the maintenance of a non-myelinating phenotype in SCs, with possible ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Germano Francisco Biondi / Banca: Oswaldo Durival Rossi Júnior / Banca: Jean Guilherme Fernandes Joaquim / Resumo: A tuberculose bovina é causada principalmente pelo Mycobacterium bovis, uma enfermidade mundialmente reconhecida que além de ser um problema de saúde pública proporciona grandes perdas econômicas e impactos negativos ao mercado internacional da carne. O objetivo deste trabalho foi observar a prevalência de lesões sugestivas de tuberculose em um frigorífico localizado na região sudeste do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados a partir das papeletas do serviço de Inspeção Federal, nas quais observou-se a proporção de positividade de tuberculose bovina quanto ao sexo do animal, ao tipo de lesão e a classificação dos linfonodos. Os resultados avaliados demonstraram que não houve uma diferença relevante nos índices de positividade quanto ao sexo masculino e feminino nos animais abatidos nem quanto às lesões calcificadas e caseosas. Porém, os linfonodos mais acometidos foram os retrofaringeanos e mediastínicos; que entre os anos de 2.007 e 2.011, respectivamente, os retrofaríngeos apresentaram prevalência de 55,42%, 53,62%, 53,20%, 47,01%, 44,16% e os mediastínicos, revelou uma prevalência de 36,06%; 39,05%, 38,43%, 36,53% e 35,93%. No entanto, os demais linfonodos como traqueo-brônquico, parotidiano, esofagiano, hepático, apical e mesentéricos não obtiveram grandes índices. O presente estudo demonstra a importância do exame post-mortem e dos mapas nosográficos nos estabelecimentos matadouro-frigorífico para identificar os animais infectados, controlar a doença e promover a Saúde Pública / Abstract: Bovine tuberculosis is caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis, a globally recognized disease that besides being a public health problem is of great economic loss and negative impact on the international meat market. This study aimed to observe the prevalence of lesions that suggest tuberculosis in a refrigerator located in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from the ballots of Federal Inspection and a proportion of positive bovine tuberculosis on the sex of the animal, the type of injury and classification of lymph nodes were observed. The evaluated results showed that there was no significant difference in rates of positivity about the male and female animals slaughtered and the calcified and caseous lesions. But the lymph nodes were the most affected retropharyngeal and mediastinal that between the years 2007 and 2011, respectively, the retropharyngeal presented the prevalence of 55.42%, 53.62%, 53.20%, 47.01%, 44, 16% and mediastinal revealed a prevalence of 36.06%, 39.05%, 38.43%, 36.53% and 35.93%. Further as tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes, parotid, esophageal, liver, and mesenteric apical was also evaluated but did not get great rates. The present study demonstrates the importance of post-mortem examination and maps nosographic slaughter and fridgeestablishments to identify infected animals to control disease and to promote public health / Mestre

TB remains a major health issue worldwide causing around 1.5 deaths each year. The recent phase III clinical trials of shortened TB treatment failed to show superiority compared to the current regimen and this mainly because of relapse. Relapse is thought to be caused by dormant bacteria. Dormancy in Mycobacterium species has been shown to be associated with the accumulation of intracellular lipids, defining two phenotypes: the lipid rich (LR) cells (associated with dormancy) and the lipid poor (LP) cells (non-dormant). LR cells were shown to have a higher phenotypic antibiotic resistance compared to LP cells. Studying these two phenotypes is therefore central in tuberculosis research to understand better the disease and also potentially start to reveal the bacteriology of relapse. We investigated the power of Raman spectroscopy, a label-free and non-destructive technique, to discriminate LR and LP bacteria both in-vitro and ex-vivo. This represents the first Raman spectroscopy study that tries to discriminate the phenotypes of M. tuberculosis and investigate them directly at the site of the disease. Using total lipid extract of M. tuberculosis, we showed the location of the main lipid bands in the Raman spectrum. The two major lipid peaks were located around 1300 cm⁻¹ and 1450 cm⁻¹. Raman spectroscopy can discriminate LR and LP cells with high sensitivity and specificity. The main differences between the two groups are located in the two major Raman lipid peaks, the lipid band A (1300 cm⁻¹) and lipid band B (1440 to 1450 cm⁻¹). The two phenotypes were successfully discriminated in TB infected guinea pig lung tissue sections also from in-vitro culture using wavelength modulated Raman (WMR) spectroscopy combined with fluorescence imaging. We developed a protocol to perform both Raman spectroscopy and immunohistochemistry on the same tissue sample. We studied the evolution of LR and LP proportion in mycobacterial population as the growth conditions changed and showed that LR cells could rapidly convert to LP cells as they face favourable growth conditions. The results presented in this thesis showed that LR M. tuberculosis cells could be predominant at the site of infection. This would suggest that drug sensitivity testing should be performed on culture presenting both LR and LP cells in high proportion.

by Carrie Au-Yeang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-54). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter I. --- Abstract --- p.iii / Chapter II. --- Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Chapter III. --- Table of Contents --- p.v / Chapter IV. --- List of Abbreviations --- p.vii / Chapter V. --- List of Figures --- p.viii / Chapter VI. --- List of Tables --- p.ix / Chapter VII. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter VIII. --- Literature Review --- p.3 / Chapter A. --- Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infections - clinical importance --- p.3 / Chapter B. --- Treatment of M. tuberculosis Infections - the past & present --- p.3 / Chapter C. --- Laboratory Supports for Treatment of Tuberculosis --- p.5 / Chapter D. --- The Postantibiotic Effects (PAE) --- p.6 / Chapter E. --- PAE of Antituberculosis Drugs Against Mycobacteria --- p.15 / Chapter F. --- Radiometric Measurement of growth --- p.16 / Chapter IX. --- Materials and Methods --- p.17 / Chapter A. --- Bacterial Strains and Their Maintenance --- p.17 / Chapter B. --- Antimicrobial Agents --- p.17 / Chapter C. --- Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing --- p.18 / Chapter D. --- Assessment of PAE and KI In Vitro --- p.20 / Chapter E. --- Assessment of PAE and KI Ex Vivo --- p.22 / Chapter F. --- Determination of Drug Uptake --- p.25 / Chapter X. --- Results --- p.29 / Chapter A. --- In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of the M. tuberculosis Strains --- p.29 / Chapter B. --- PAE In Vitro - the Classical Viable Count Method --- p.29 / Chapter C. --- PAE Measured by the Bactec Method --- p.30 / Chapter D. --- PAE In Vitro - the Bactec Method --- p.30 / Chapter E. --- Postantibiotic Effects Ex Vivo by the Bactec Method --- p.31 / Chapter F. --- Bactericidal Activities In Vitro and Ex Vivo --- p.32 / Chapter XI. --- Discussion --- p.34 / Chapter A. --- Selection of M. tuberculosis isolates and Drug Susceptibility --- p.34 / Chapter B. --- PAE and KI In Vitro & Ex Vivo - the study methods --- p.34 / Chapter C. --- PAE In Vitro & Ex Vivo - single drug --- p.36 / Chapter D. --- PAE Ex Vivo - drug combinations --- p.38 / Chapter E. --- KI In vitro & Ex vivo --- p.39 / Chapter F. --- PAE and Clinical Therapeutic Regimens --- p.41 / Chapter G. --- Conclusion & Future Studies --- p.44 / Chapter XII. --- Literature Cited --- p.45 / Chapter XIII. --- Figures --- p.55 / Chapter IVX --- Tables --- p.68

Submitted by Maria Beatriz Vieira (mbeatriz.vieira@gmail.com) on 2017-10-17T12:38:10Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) dissertacao_priscila_cristina_bartolomeu_halicki.pdf: 828377 bytes, checksum: 80762df11368d26386cc393c3dded829 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-10-23T11:08:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertacao_priscila_cristina_bartolomeu_halicki.pdf: 828377 bytes, checksum: 80762df11368d26386cc393c3dded829 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-10-23T11:08:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertacao_priscila_cristina_bartolomeu_halicki.pdf: 828377 bytes, checksum: 80762df11368d26386cc393c3dded829 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-23T11:08:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertacao_priscila_cristina_bartolomeu_halicki.pdf: 828377 bytes, checksum: 80762df11368d26386cc393c3dded829 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infecciosa causada, principalmente, pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis e, apesar de curável, ainda é considerada um problema de saúde pública mundial. O tratamento prolongado, combinado com seus efeitos tóxicos e interações farmacocinéticas com outros compostos, pode dificultar a adesão do paciente à terapia, além de selecionar bacilos resistentes. Esses fatores reforçam a necessidade da busca por novos fármacos e por substâncias que possam potencializar a ação de outros fármacos já estabelecidos. Logo, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial antimicobacteriano de naftoquinonas, um nanocarreador lipídico e seus excipientes (óleo de rícino, lecitina de soja, estearato de PEG 660 e rifampicina (RIF)), pelo método Resazurin Microtiter Assay, através da determinação da concentração mínima inibitória (CMI). As naftoquinonas foram avaliadas in vitro frente a três cepas de M. tuberculosis: uma pan-suscetível H37Rv (ATCC 27294); uma monoresistente à isoniazida (INHr - ATCC 35822) com mutação no gene katG (S315T); e outra monoresistente à rifampicina (RIFr - ATCC 35338) com mutação no gene rpoB (H526T), enquanto a RIF-NE e seus excipientes foram avaliados frente a outras três cepas: uma pan-suscetível H37Rv (ATCC 27294); um isolado clínico suscetível e um isolado clínico multidroga resistente (MDR), com mutações nos genes katG (S315T) e rpoB (S531L). Todas as naftoquinonas foram ativas frente às três cepas de M. tuberculosis, com CMI entre 234 e 12,5 μM. Entretanto, as moléculas que apresentam um grupamento amina em sua composição, apresentaram resultados promissores relacionados à primeira etapa de desenvolvimento de um novo fármaco, devido à atividade antimicobacteriana e à baixa toxicidade frente a macrófagos da linhagem J774A.1. Em relação aos nanocarreadores lipídicos, foi possível observar que o encapsulamento da RIF não foi capaz de potencializar sua atividade in vitro para as cepas suscetíveis, porém, aumentou 130x a suscetibilidade da cepa MDR à RIF. Com base nesse resultado, foi avaliada a atividade antimicobacteriana da nanoemulsão sem rifampicina (UN-NE) e dos excipientes utilizados na sua formulação. O estearato de PEG 660 foi ativo frente às três cepas de M. tuberculosis, enquanto o óleo de rícino e a lecitina de soja não apresentaram atividade antimicobacteriana. Considerando as concentrações proporcionais de cada componente na formulação das nanoemulsões e a CMI desses compostos separadamente, pode-se inferir que a atividade antimicrobiana da UN-NE para as três cepas e da RIF-NE para a cepa MDR pode estar relacionada à atividade do estearato de PEG 660. Dessa forma, alguns compostos avaliados neste estudo apresentaram potencial antimicobacteriano e podem ser promissores no desenvolvimento de novas alternativas terapêuticas para a TB, servindo como protótipos para novos fármacos ou novos carreadores de fármacos anti-TB. / Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused mainly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and although curable, is still considered a problem of public health worldwide. Prolonged treatment combined with its toxic effects and pharmacokinetic interactions with other compounds can hamper patient adherence to therapy, besides selecting resistant bacilli. These factors reinforce the need to search for new drugs and substances that can enhance the action of other drugs already established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antimycobacterial potential of naphthoquinones, a lipid nanocarrier and its ingredients (castor oil, soy lecithin, PEG stearate 660 and rifampicin (RIF)), by Resazurin Microtiter Assay, by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The naphthoquinones were evaluated against three strains in vitro: a pan-susceptible H37Rv (ATCC 27294); one monoresistant isoniazid (ATCC 35822) with mutation in the katG gene (S315T); and a monoresistant to RIF (ATCC 35338) with a mutation in rpoB gene (H526T), while RIF-NE and the excipients have been evaluated against other three strains: a pan-susceptible H37Rv (ATCC 27294); a susceptible clinical isolate and a multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolate, with mutations in the katG gene (S315T) and rpoB (S531L). All naphthoquinones were active against the three strains of M. tuberculosis, with MIC between 234 and 12.5 μM. However, the molecules which have an amine grouping in their composition have shown promising results related to the first stage of a new drug development, due to the antimycobacterial activity and low toxicity against the J774A.1 macrophage lineage. About lipid nanocarriers, it was observed that the encapsulation of RIF was not able to enhance its in vitro activity for susceptible strains, however, increased 130x the susceptibility of the MDR strain to RIF. Based on this result, the antimycobacterial activity of the nanoemulsion without rifampicin (UN-NE) and excipients used in the formulation was evaluated. The PEG-660 stearate was active against the three strains of M. tuberculosis, while castor oil and soy lecithin showed no antimycobacterial activity. Considering the proportional concentrations of each component in the formulation of nanoemulsions and MIC of these compounds separately, it can infer that the antimicrobial activity of UN-NE for the three strains and RIF-NE for MDR strain can be related to PEG-660 stearate activity. Thus, some compounds evaluated in this study showed antimycobacterial activity and may be promising in the development of new therapeutic alternatives for TB, serving as prototypes for new drugs or new carriers of anti-TB drugs.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:01:22Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 sato_dn_dr_araiq.pdf: 232098 bytes, checksum: fef9938402c38520312a4f3268b1687d (MD5) / O aumento de cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistentes às drogas utilizadas no esquema de tratamento convencional, principalmente por falha terapêutica, têm levado os pesquisadores à busca de novas drogas. Entretanto, faz-se necessário desenvolver novas metodologias para a determinação da atividade bactericida destes compostos. Este estudo descreve a padronização de uma metodologia rápida para triagem de atividade intra e extracelular de novos compostos, empregando Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 e Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman ATCC 35801, ambas contendo o plasmídio pSMT1 com o gene luxA e luxB proveniente do Vibrio harveyi. A rifampicina e a isoniazida foram empregadas como droga de referência na padronização da técnica da luciferase extracelular, obtendo-se resultados de Concentração Inibitória Mínima de 0,03 μg/mL, para ambas as drogas, valores estes compatíveis com os da técnica de Alamar Blue. Para a padronização da técnica da luciferase intracelular foi utilizado o M. tuberculosis Erdman ATCC 35801 contendo o plasmídio pSMT internalizado em células de macrófagos J774. A droga de referência empregada foi a rifampicina obtendo-se um... / There has been an increase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains that are resistant to the current anti-TB agents, mainly through acquired resistance by therapeutic failure. This fact has underscored the need of a quick development of antimycobacterial drugs that are more effective than those currently in use. Moreover, new methodologies to determine the bactericidal activity of these compounds have been proposed. This study describes the use of bioluminescent strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv – ATCC 27974 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman ATCC 35801 both containing the plasmid pSMT1 constructed with luxA and luxB genes from Vibrio harveyi in a screening to evaluate the antimycobacterial activities of anti-TB agents. Standardization of the technique was performed using isoniazid and rifampicin, as drugs standard. The results of Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were 0.03 μg/mL and 0.03 μg/mL, respectively. These values were totally compatible with those obtained by Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA). Standardization of bioluminescence measurements of intracellular antimycobacterial activity was performed using the J774 murine...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

La tuberculose est due à un groupe d’agents infectieux phylogénétiquement proches formant le complexe Mycobacterium tuberculosis, formé de dix espèces. M. tuberculosis est un bacille à croissance lente qui forme des colonies rugueuses. Le complexe M. tuberculosis comporte également des bacilles tuberculeux formant des colonies lisses à croissance rapide, isolées qu’à partir de prélèvements cliniques chez l’homme. Notre revue des articles sur ces souches a montré que les trois premiers isolats ont été obtenus chez des patients en France, à Madagascar et en Polynésie Française par Georges Canetti entre 1968 et 1970. Suite à l'isolement d'une souche lisse à partir d’un ganglion cervical chez un enfant Somali de 2 ans en 1997, ces bacilles tuberculeux ont été nommés "Mycobacterium canettii". Aujourd'hui, moins d'une centaine de ces souches ont été isolées à partir de patients exposés aux pays formant la Corne de l’Afrique, principalement la République de Djibouti, qui présente la plus forte prévalence. Nous avons procédé à l’analyse génotypique de 34 isolats de M. tuberculosis et de 87 isolats de mycobactéries non-tuberculeuses de la Polynésie Française pour voir si des telles souches persistaient.Nous avons pu décrire deux nouvelles lignées de M. tuberculosis et une nouvelle espèce de mycobactérie non-tuberculeuse. Nous avons envisagé une transmission par voie digestive de "M. canettii" et nous avons testé la résistance de "M. canettii" à la chaleur. Nous avons observé la croissance de cette dernière entre 25°C et 45°C. Les données que nous avons obtenues ici pourraient former une base en vue d'élucider les réservoirs et les sources de souches lisses. / Tuberculosis is caused by a group of phylogenetically close infectious agents forming the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, consisting of ten species. M. tuberculosis is a slow growing bacterium which form rough colonies. The complex also includes M. tuberculosis tubercle bacilli forming smooth rapidly-growing colonies isolated from clinical specimens in humans. Our review of articles on these strains showed that the first three isolates were obtained from patients in France, Madagascar and French Polynesia by Georges Canetti between 1968 and 1970. Following the isolation of a smooth strain from cervical ganglion of a Somali 2 year-old child in 1997, the tubercle bacilli were named "Mycobacterium canettii". Today, less than a hundred of these strains were isolated from patients exposed to countries forming the Horn of Africa, especially the Republic of Djibouti, which has the highest prevalence. As showed in our revue, one smooth tubercle bacilli was isolated in Frenche Polynesia. To see if such strains persist there, we performed the genotyping of 34 isolates of M. tuberculosis and 87 isolates of non-tuberculous mycobacteria from French Polynesia. We have described two new strains of M. tuberculosis and a new species of mycobacterium tuberculosis not. We considered, on the basis of our data, a transmission through the digestive tract for "M. canettii" and we tested the resistance "Mr. canettii" to heat. We observed the growth of the latter between 25°C and 45°C. The data we got here could form a basis to elucidate the reservoirs and sources of smooth strains.

A caracterização das mutações nos genes katG, ahpC e inhA e sua correlação com a resistência à isoniazida em isolados de Mycobacterium tuberculosis tem sido descrita. A mutação S315T no gene katG é a mais freqüentemente encontrada e pode fornecer rápida informação para a seleção do tratamento anti-tuberculose, para a vigilância epidemiológica da resistência e, possivelmente rastrear a transmissão de linhagens resistentes. Dessa forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de um Ensaio de Hibridização Reversa (EHR) para a rápida identificação da mutação no códon 315 do gene katG em M. tuberculosis. Após a padronização da metodologia com 180 DNAs de M. tuberculosis isolados de cultura, o teste foi aplicado a 46 DNAs isolados de amostras clínicas e foram testados para a detecção de mutantes katG315 resistentes à isoniazida. Quando aplicado em DNA de cultura o teste pôde detectar com sucesso a mutação mais comum no katG315 (AGC ACC) em todas as linhagens estudadas em comparação com o seqüenciamento de DNA. Em relação às amostras clínicas, o EHR apresentou concordância com o seqüenciamento em todas as amostras com baciloscopia positiva. O teste desenvolvido apresenta um bom potencial para a rápida identificação da resistência à isoniazida em regiões com uma elevada prevalência de mutantes katG315 entre isolados de M. tuberculosis resistentes à isoniazida. / Mutations in katG, ahpC and inhA genes were identified and have been correlated with isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, mutation in katG S315T being the most frequent. Rapid detection of this mutation could therefore improve the choice of an adequate anti-TB regimen, epidemiological monitoring of isoniazid resistance and, possibly to track transmission of resistant strains. Reverse Hybridization Assay (RHA) is a simple technique for the rapid identification of katG315 mutation in M. tuberculosis. The assay was standardized with 180 DNAs isolated from cultures of M. tuberculosis and was applied to 46 clinical specimens and tested for the detection of isoniazid-resistant katG315 mutants. When the test was applied to the DNA from cultured M. tuberculosis it was possible to successfully detect the most common mutation at katG315 (AGC ACC) in all isolates studied in comparison with DNA sequencing. For clinical samples, the RHA presented agreement with the sequencing in all samples with smear positive. The developed test presents a good potential for the rapid identification of isoniazid resistance in regions with a high prevalence of katG315 mutants among isoniazid-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates.