IS901, a new member of a widespread class of atypical insertion sequences, is associated with pathogenicity in Mycobacterium avium

Abstract

An insertion sequence (IS901), found in pathogenic strains of Mycobacterium avium, but absent in M. avium complex isolates from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), has been isolated and sequenced. This insertion element has a nucleotide sequence of 1472 bp, with one open reading frame (ORF1), which codes for a protein of 401 amino acids. The amino acid sequence, terminal ends and target site of IS901 are similar to those of IS900, present in Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. However, the DNA sequences of these two IS elements exhibit only 60% homology, compared to a DNA homology of 98% between their respective hosts. IS901, like IS900, appears to belong to a family of related insertion elements present in actinomycetes and other bacteria. M. avium strains containing IS901 were found to be more virulent in mice than closely related strains lacking IS901. IS901 may be a useful tool for the study of the genetics of virulence in the M. avium complex and for obtaining stable integration of foreign genes into mycobacteria.

Isolation of conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria from the environment of one pig farm and the effectiveness of preventive measures between 1997 and 2003

“…All the AFR positive isolates were examined by the PCR method for the detection of dnaJ gene, specific for genus Mycobacterium using primers 5'-GGG TGA CGC GAC ATG GCC CA-3' and 5'-CGG GTT TCG TCG TAC TCC TT-3 (Nagai et al, 1990). IS901 detection primers 5'-GCA ACG GTT GTT GCT TGA AA-3' and 5'-TGA TAC GGC CGG AAT CGC GT-3' (Kunze et al, 1991(Kunze et al, , 1992) and IS1245 detection primers 5'-GCC GCC GAA ACG ATC TAC-3' and 5'-AGG TGG CGT CGA GGA AGA-3' were used (Guerrero et al, 1995). In all PCR examinations, internal standards were used .…”

Characterization of an IS-like element from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

“…tuberculosis (Cave et al, Several IS and transposable elements have been described in various mycobacterial species, e.g. IS900, IS901, IS902,IS1096, IS6110, TN6lO and others (Cave et al, 1991;Cirillo et al, 1991;Green et al, 1989;Kunze et al, 1991;Martin et al, 1990;McAdam et al, 1990;Moss et al, 1992;Thierry et al, 1990). By computer analysis, no homology between them and the sequence described here could be found, at either the DNA or protein level.…”

“…During the recent genetic analysis of several mycobacterial species, various repetitive DNA elements have been found; many of them have features in common with typical IS elements (Cirillo et al, 1991;Eisenach et al, 1990;Green et al, 1989;Kunze et al, 1991 ;Martin et al, 1990;McAdam et al, 1990;Moss et al, 1992;Patel et al, 1990;Thierry et al, 1990;Woods & Cole, 1990). Transposable elements can be of value as genetic tools.…”

Characterization of a major polymorphic tandem repeat in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its potential use in the epidemiology of Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium gordonae

“…The insertion elements IS900 from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (4,12), IS901 from Mycobacterium avium (19), IS1096 from Mycobacterium smegmatis (2), IS1081 from Mycobacterium bovis, and the IS3 family of insertion elements present in the species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (15,22,37) are present in multiple copies in the mycobacterial chromosome (16,40). Additionally, unidentified repeated sequences, or repeats which do not share characteristics with other sequences, have been found in Mycobacterium leprae (3,13,43) and M. tuberculosis (6,14,15,27).…”