Investigation of efflux pump genes in isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates

Kaya, Hamide | Ersoy, Leyla | Ülger, Mahmut | Bozok, Taylan | Aslan, Gönül

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. Resistance to antituberculosis drugs develops because of genetic mutations that render drug-activating enzymes inactive, changes in cell wall permeability, and increased expression of efflux pump genes and also combination therapy with efflux pump inhibitors may be more effective in drug-resistant TB patients. Aims: To investigate the effect of verapamil (VR) on isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) resistance and the expression of 21 efflux pump genes in INH monoresistant MTBC clinical isolates. Study design: In vitro study. Methods: In our mycobacteriology laboratory, 10 INH monoresistant and 10 primary anti-TB drug-susceptible MTBC clinical isolates were selected. Drug susceptibilities for INH and V...