The effect of self-generated hypoxia on the expression of target genes coding for electron transport related products in mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Date
2010
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Abstract
The work presented here aims at identifying whether the genes identified in the genome of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis that code for products involved in anaerobic metabolism are active or
inactivated genes. The study consists of three distinct parts.
In part one, serial dilutions of sputum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were grown
on agar surface and in high columns of un-agitated broth. The highest dilution from which
mycobacteria was grown was for all patients significantly higher in the broth cultures than on the
plates suggesting the presence of anaerobically metabolizing mycobacteria in the lungs of patients
with PTB.
Part two of the study identified gene expression by measuring the concentration of transcripts for 5
genes involved in aerobic or anaerobic pathways. This was done over a period of 15 weeks using
un-agitated broth cultures (the Wayne method). Undulating patterns of gene expression were found
with the genes coding for anaerobic metabolic pathway components expressed at higher levels than
those coding for aerobic pathway components while the cultures grew older.
Part three aimed at measuring transcription products of the same set of genes directly in sputum
specimens. Although quantitation at bacterial cell level in the sputum could not be achieved,
expression of all genes was established with on average larger quantities of transcripts of genes
coding for the anaerobic pathway components.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.
Keywords
Mycobacterium tuberculosis., Theses--Microbiology.