Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains Isolated from Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, with increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) posing a threat to public health. This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis strains using RAPD fingerprinting techniques. A total of 100 culture-positive pulmonary TB patients were included, and their isolates were subjected to DNA extraction followed by RAPD-PCR analysis. The genetic diversity among the strains was assessed using dendrogram clustering. The results indicate substantial genetic polymorphism among the isolates, underscoring the need for continuous epidemiological surveillance to track the transmission and evolution of drug-resistant TB strains. The study further highlights the applicability of RAPD-PCR as an efficient molecular tool in epidemiological studies of M. tuberculosis.