Research

In another parallel project, we have demonstrated that genetic mutants of M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis, which are resistant to rifampicin and moxifloxacin, emerge de novo from the persistence population generated upon exposure of the cells to the antibiotics for prolonged periods, as in TB treatment regime. The antibiotic persistence cells...

We had earlier reported that mid-log phase cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm), Mycobacterium xenopi (Mxe) and pulmonary tuberculosis patients' sputum harbor a minor subpopulation (~10-20% of the population) of low buoyant density, short-sized cells (short-sized cells; SCs) and a major subpopulation (~80-90%...