Rifampin is a important component of multidrug therapy in leprosy and tuberculosis. It
inhibits initiation and elongation of RNA transcription by binding β-subunit of RNA
polymerase which is encoded from γpoB. However, with rifampin resistant
Mycobacterium leprae have been reported in relapsing patients, leprosy control program
is more difficult than before. We developed the efficient method for detection of rifampin
resistance mutation, and isolated 2 variant strains of M. leprae from Korean leprosy
patients by PCR-SSCP of the γpoB gene. With nucleotide sequencing, it is revealed
that 6 missense mutations which altered at Leu-449, Gly-461, Ser-464, Arg-465,
Arg-467 and Ala-468, and 2 silent mutations at Arg-454 and Gly-461. Two variant
strains have same mutation at some parts that is Ser-464, Arg-465, Arg-467 and
Ala-468. These common mutated areas might be very important target site of rifampin
activity.
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