PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Gicquel

Publications and source records attributed to B Gicquel.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using IS6110 as an epidemiological marker in tuberculosis.

The mycobacterial insertion sequence IS6110 has been shown to be present in multiple copies in the chromosome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of strains isolated from patients who developed tuberculosis showed identical patterns over a 2- to 3-year period. In contrast, a high degree of polymorphism was observed between strains of the M. tuberculosis complex isolated from different patients. This study demonstrates that the presence of IS6110 does not induce in vivo major genomic rearrangements over a 2- to 3-year period and confirms its use as a valuable epidemiological marker in tuberculosis.

Base Sequence↗

Transposition of an antibiotic resistance element in mycobacteria.

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is often plasmid-mediated and the associated resistance genes encoded by transposable elements. Mycobacteria, including the human pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae, are resistant to many antibiotics, and their cell-surface structure is believed to be largely responsible for the wide range of resistance phenotypes. Antibiotic-resistance plasmids have so far not been implicated in resistance of mycobacteria to antibiotics. Nevertheless, antibiotic-modifying activities such as aminoglycoside acetyltransferases and phosphotransferases have been detected in fast-growing species. beta-lactamases have also been found in most fast- and slow-growing mycobacteria. To date no mycobacterial antibiotic-resistance genes have been isolated and characterized. We now report the isolation, cloning and sequencing of a genetic region responsible for resistance to sulphonamides in M. fortuitum. This region also contains an open reading frame homologous to one present in Tn1696 (member of the Tn21 family) which encodes a site-specific integrase. The mycobacterial resistance element is flanked by repeated sequences of 880 base pairs similar to the insertion elements of the IS6 family found in Gram+ and Gram- bacteria. The insertion element is shown to transpose to different sites in the chromosome of a related fast-growing species, M. smegmatis. The characterization of this element should permit transposon mutagenesis in the analysis of mycobacterial virulence and related problems.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Functional analysis of pAL5000, a plasmid from Mycobacterium fortuitum: construction of a "mini" mycobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle vector.

Functional domains of pAL5000 were determined by gene disruption and deletion analysis. Of the five plasmid open reading frames (ORFs), ORF1 to ORF5, and a putative origin of replication previously identified (J. Rauzier, J. Moniz-Pereira, and B. Gicquel-Sanzey, Gene 71:315-321), two of the ORFs (ORF3 and ORF4) were deemed dispensable for plasmid replication. A "mini" mycobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle plasmid applicable for general recombinant DNA studies in mycobacteria was constructed by using the gene for Kanr (Tn903) as a selective marker. Heterologous expression of the gene for Kanr was confirmed by Western blotting (immunoblotting) analysis.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Characterization of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis insertion sequence, IS6110, and its application in diagnosis.

An insertion sequence-like element, IS6110, was isolated from a Mycobacterium tuberculosis cosmid library as a repetitive sequence. IS6110 shows similarities with elements of the IS3 family. This insertion sequence was found to be specific to mycobacteria belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex. For detection and identification of M. tuberculosis bacilli in uncultured specimens, oligonucleotides derived from the IS6110 sequence were used as primers and probes in polymerase chain reaction studies. The results obtained were consistent with results of classical identification procedures, bacteriological data, and clinical criteria.

DNA Transposable Elements↗

Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis by amplification of mycobacterial DNA in clinical samples.

A method based on DNA amplification and hybridisation for the rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used to test 35 clinical specimens (sputum, gastric aspirate, abscess aspirate, biopsy sample) from 34 patients in whom tuberculosis was suspected. M tuberculosis was detected in 15 specimens, 2 of which were negative by standard microbiological criteria (microscopy and/or culture). 20 specimens, negative by standard methods, were also negative by the amplification method. M tuberculosis was also detected in peripheral blood samples of 2 of 4 patients with AIDS from whom the organism had been isolated.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Detection and identification of mycobacteria by amplification of mycobacterial DNA.

A 383bp segment of the gene coding for the 65kD mycobacterial antigens from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, and Mycobacterium fortuitum was amplified using Taq polymerase and synthetic oligonucleotide primers and the amplified DNAs from four of these species were compared by nucleotide sequencing. Although the gene segments from these species showed considerable similarity, oligonucleotide probes which could distinguish M. tuberculosis/M. bovis, M. avium/M. paratuberculosis and M. fortuitum could be identified. Samples containing 10(6) human cells and serial dilutions of a suspension of intact mycobacteria were prepared, DNA was extracted, the segment of the mycobacterial DNA sequence amplified, and the amplified DNA hybridized with oligonucleotide probes. In two independent experiments, this procedure permitted the detection and identification of less than 100 mycobacteria in the original sample. These results suggest that this approach may prove useful in the early diagnosis of mycobacterial infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

DNA polymorphism in Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, "wood pigeon mycobacteria," and related mycobacteria analyzed by field inversion gel electrophoresis.

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis strains, mycobacteria from patients suffering from Crohn's disease, "wood pigeon mycobacteria," and representatives of Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare were compared by restriction endonuclease DraI digestion and field inversion gel electrophoresis. Characteristic profiles were seen for M. paratuberculosis, including isolates from patients suffering from Crohn's disease, for wood pigeon mycobacteria, and for M. avium-M. intracellulare serotypes 2, 16, 18, and 19. Two M. paratuberculosis strains used for vaccine production (St 18 and 316 F) presented patterns different from those of the other M. paratuberculosis strains. Strains St 18 yielded a pattern identical to that of the M. avium type strain serotype 2, whereas 316 F gave a unique pattern. The method developed in this study represents a useful taxonomic tool for the identification and classification of mycobacteria.

Animals↗