Mutations in the RpoB Gene of Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Isolates from Semarang, Indonesia

ABSTRACTTuberculosis is an infectious disease which occurs widely in the world and becomes one of the top ۱۰ causes of death worldwide. Mutations of the RpoB gene cause the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to rifampicin that contributes to the occurrence of MDR-TB. This study aimed to determine the pattern of rpoB gene polymorphisms in the MDR M. tuberculosis in Semarang, Indonesia. Most mutations occurred at codon Ser۵۳۱Leu (۱۳ isolates), codon Gln۴۹۰Lys (۷ isolates) and codon ۵۲۶ (۵ isolates). Variations of mutation mostly occurred at codon ۵۲۶ with ۴ variations of nucleotide changes, including His۴۹۰Leu, His۴۹۰Cys, His۴۹۰Ser and His۴۹۰Tyr. The types of mutation were missense mutations (۳۰ mutations) and silent mutation (۱ mutation). The mutations in the rpoB gene of MDR M. tuberculosis isolates in Semarang showed genetic variations that caused high levels of resistance to rifampicin. Keywords: MDR M. Tuberculosis; rpoB gene mutations; rifampicin resistance