Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using IS6110 as an epidemiological marker in tuberculosis

The mycobacterial insertion sequence IS6110 has been shown to be present in multiple copies in the chromosome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of strains isolated from patients who developed tuberculosis showed identical patterns over a 2- to 3-year period. In contrast, a high degree of polymorphism was observed between strains of the M. tuberculosis complex isolated from different patients. This study demonstrates that the presence of IS6110 does not induce in vivo major genomic rearrangements over a 2- to 3-year period and confirms its use as a valuable epidemiological marker in tuberculosis.