METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DETECTING AND TREATING MYCOBACTERIAL INFECTIONS USING AN AHPCF OPERON

摘要

The embodiments of the invention are based upon the identification and characterization of an operon that determines mycobacterial resistance to the antibiotic isoniazid (INH) and its analogs. This operon, termed uahpCF/u, encodes polypeptides, AhpC and AhpF, which likely combine to form an active alkyl hydroperoxide reductase enzyme that may either be a direct target for INH or act to confer INH resistance. The sequence of the mutant uahpCF/u operon is provided, showing that INH resistance can be conferred by a mutation in the promoter region. Also provided are polynucleotides and polypeptides that are useful in diagnosis and treatment.