TB bacteria evolve at alarming rate

(Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology) Scientists carried out a research aimed at identifying the genes and mutations in them that allow mycobacteria to thrive in people with altered immune status including HIV-positive patients. They developed a catalog of mutations in more than 300 virulence (disease causing) genes. Further analysis identified a set of three mutations which may enable mycobacteria to develop rapidly in an immunocompromised environment.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news