Genetic diversity in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex based on variable numbers of tandem DNA repeats

The utility of the analysis of variable numbers of tandem repeats in the differentiation of species and strains belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is investigated. Eleven loci were identified and amplified in 48 strains. Twenty-two unique allele profiles were identified in 25 wild strains from the M. tuberculosis complex while five were identified in 23 substrains of the attenuated M. bovis.