Open Access

PCR amplification of the erm(41) gene can be used to predict the sensitivity of Mycobacterium abscessus complex strains to clarithromycin

  • Authors:
    • Ayaka Mase
    • Fumihiro Yamaguchi
    • Toshitaka Funaki
    • Yohei Yamazaki
    • Yusuke Shikama
    • Kunihiko Fukuchi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 5, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8289
  • Pages: 945-955
  • Copyright: © Mase et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

A worldwide increase in the Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) complex has been observed. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the diversity of the rrl and erm(41) genes, both of which are associated with macrolide sensitivity in the M. abscessus complex. The current study also examined the efficacy of mass spectrometry as an alternative to molecular testing to classify subspecies of the M. abscessus complex. A total of 14 strains of the M. abscessus complex were obtained, and based on conventional analyses using housekeeping genes, 57% were determined to be M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, 43% were M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, and none were identified as M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. However, depending on the strain, it was not always possible to distinguish between the subspecies by mass spectrometry. Consequently, PCR products for the rrl and erm(41) genes were directly sequenced. Overall, 7.1% of the strains were identified to have a rrl mutation, and 92.9% carried a T at position 28 of erm(41). Results presented here suggest that the principal cause of treatment failure for M. abscessus complex infections is inducible macrolide resistance encoded by the erm(41) gene. From a strictly pragmatic standpoint, the phenotypic function of a putative erm(41) gene is the most important piece of information required by clinicians in order to prescribe an effective treatment. Although PCR amplification of erm(41) is not sufficient to differentiate between the M. abscessus complex subspecies, PCR can be easily and efficiently used to predict the sensitivity of members of the M. abscessus complex to clarithromycin.
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February-2020
Volume 19 Issue 2

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Spandidos Publications style
Mase A, Yamaguchi F, Funaki T, Yamazaki Y, Shikama Y and Fukuchi K: PCR amplification of the erm(41) gene can be used to predict the sensitivity of Mycobacterium abscessus complex strains to clarithromycin. Exp Ther Med 19: 945-955, 2020.
APA
Mase, A., Yamaguchi, F., Funaki, T., Yamazaki, Y., Shikama, Y., & Fukuchi, K. (2020). PCR amplification of the erm(41) gene can be used to predict the sensitivity of Mycobacterium abscessus complex strains to clarithromycin. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 19, 945-955. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8289
MLA
Mase, A., Yamaguchi, F., Funaki, T., Yamazaki, Y., Shikama, Y., Fukuchi, K."PCR amplification of the erm(41) gene can be used to predict the sensitivity of Mycobacterium abscessus complex strains to clarithromycin". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 19.2 (2020): 945-955.
Chicago
Mase, A., Yamaguchi, F., Funaki, T., Yamazaki, Y., Shikama, Y., Fukuchi, K."PCR amplification of the erm(41) gene can be used to predict the sensitivity of Mycobacterium abscessus complex strains to clarithromycin". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 19, no. 2 (2020): 945-955. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8289