Raman spectroscopy experimental spectrum analysis for identification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with different drug resistance

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MbT) drug resistance remains a serious problem for global public health and usually leads to a lethal outcome. Precise and rapid identification of a specific MbT strain is vital for the appointment of anti-tuberculosis therapy. We continue investigation [1, 2] of deactivated MbT strains of the Beijing family by Raman spectroscopy method and focus on Raman spectra analysis for the identification of potential biomarkers for different MbT strains.. We have studied extrapulmonary Beijing strain with XDR resistance. Samples were investigated by Raman spectrometry with He-Ne (lambda=633 nm) laser excitation source in the "fingerprint" region. As a result, new spectral features were determined. They describe spectral discrimination between drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains identified for extra-pulmonary forms of tuberculosis. We suppose that the obtained results can be useful for new diagnostic tools development for the identification of different MbT strains in clinical and research practice.