Pyrazinamides-methods for identifying resistant mycobacteria and treating mycobacterial infections

摘要

Disclosed are methods, probes, primers and kits for identifying pyrazinamide-resistant mycobacteria. These methods can be used to distinguish M. bovis from M. tuberculosis, as well as to identify additional pyrazinamide-resistant mycobacteria. Also disclosed are methods for treating mycobacterial infections by expressing a pncA gene in mycobacteria that infect a mammal, and treating the mammal with pyrazinamide. The invention derives from the discovery of that the molecular basis for pyrazinamide resistance is an alteration in the pncA gene of mycobacteria. The detection of such an alteration is an indicator of PZA-resistant mycobacteria.