Cytochrome CYP141: a new target for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical specimens.

Cytochrome P450 CYP141 is an intermediary metabolic and respiratory protein that interferes with oxidation reduction in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This conserved protein has also been debated as a hypothetical target for therapeutics. We used the sequences of CYP141 gene to develop a PCR for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from respiratory specimens. The sensitivity of this PCR for culture positive-smear positive and culture positive-smear negative samples were 92% and 62.5%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of this PCR was 85.7% and 97.8%. As compared with other studies, it appears that the CYP141 gene is a good target for direct detection of M. tuberculosis from respiratory specimens.