Aim: To study the proteomic and morphological changes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv exposed to subinhibitory concentration of isoniazid (INH).
Materials & methods: The bacillus was exposed to ½ MIC of INH at 12, 24 and 48 h. The samples' cells were submitted to scanning electron microscopy. The proteins were separated by 2D gel electrophoresis and identified by MS.
Results: INH exposure was able to alter the format, the multiplication and causing a cell swelling in the bacillus. The major altered proteins were related to the virulence, detoxification, adaptation, intermediary metabolism and lipid metabolism.
Conclusion: The protein and morphological changes in M. tuberculosis induced by ½ MIC INH were related to defense mechanism of the bacillus or the action of INH therein.
Keywords: 2D gel electrophoresis; MS; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; isoniazid; morphological changes; morphology; protein changes; proteome; scanning electron microscopy; tuberculosis.