TB resistance assay

1 . A set of nucleic acid probes for use in an assay for detecting multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. in a sample, which set includes subset (c) and one or both of subset (a) and subset (b), wherein:

subset (a) is probe 1 or probe 2;

subset (b) is probe 3 or probe 4; and

subset (c) is one or more of probes 5-32;

wherein further:

probe 1 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a first target sequence ACCAGCGGCA [SEQ ID NO:39], or to the complement thereof;

probe 2 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a second target sequence GCCGGTGGTG [SEQ ID NO:40], or to the complement thereof;

probe 3 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a third target sequence TATCGTCTCG [SEQ ID NO:41], or to the complement thereof;

probe 4 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a fourth target sequence TATCATCTCG [SEQ ID NO:42], or to the complement thereof;

probe 5 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a fifth target sequence GAATTGGCTC [SEQ ID NO:43], or to the complement thereof;

probe 6 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a sixth target sequence CTGGTCCATG [SEQ ID NO:44], or to the complement thereof;

probe 7 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a seventh target sequence GGTTGTTCTG [SEQ ID NO:45], or to the complement thereof;

probe 8 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to an eighth target sequence CCCGACAGCG [SEQ ID NO:46], or to the complement thereof;

probe 9 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a ninth target sequence GCTTGTGGGT [SEQ ID NO:47], or to the complement thereof;

probe 10 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 10 nucleotides that binds to a tenth target sequence CCAGTGCCGA [SEQ ID NO:48], or to the complement thereof;

probe 11 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 23 nucleotides that binds to an eleventh target sequence CAGCCAGCCAGCTGAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:11], or to the complement thereof;

probe 12 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 23 nucleotides that binds to a twelfth target sequence CCAGCCAGCTGAGCCAATTCATG [SEQ ID NO:12], or to the complement thereof;

probe 13 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 23 nucleotides that binds to a thirteenth target sequence AGCTGAGCCAATTCATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:13], or to the complement thereof;

probe 14 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 24 nucleotides that binds to a fourteenth target sequence TGAGCCAATTCATGGACCAGAACA [SEQ ID NO:14], or to the complement thereof;

probe 15 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 24 nucleotides that binds to a fifteenth target sequence AATTCATGGACCAGAACAACCCGC [SEQ ID NO:15], or to the complement thereof;

probe 16 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 23 nucleotides that binds to a sixteenth target sequence TCATGGACCAGAACAACCCGCTG [SEQ ID NO:16], or to the complement thereof;

probe 17 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 22 nucleotides that binds to a seventeenth target sequence ACCAGAACAACCCGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:17], or to the complement thereof;

probe 18 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 22 nucleotides that binds to a eighteenth target sequence AGAACAACCCGCTGTCGGGGTT [SEQ ID NO:18], or to the complement thereof;

probe 19 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a nineteenth target sequence ACCCGCTGTCGGGGTTGACCC [SEQ ID NO:19], or to the complement thereof;

probe 20 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 22 nucleotides that binds to a 20 th target sequence CGCTGTCGGGGTTGACCCACAA [SEQ ID NO:20], or to the complement thereof;

probe 21 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 22 nucleotides that binds to a 21 st target sequence TGTCGGGGTTGACCCACAAGCG [SEQ ID NO:21], or to the complement thereof;

probe 22 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 22 nd target sequence CGGGGTTGACCCACAAGCGCC [SEQ ID NO:22], or to the complement thereof;

probe 23 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 22 nucleotides that binds to a 23 rd target sequence TGACCCACAAGCGCCGACTGTC [SEQ ID NO:23], or to the complement thereof;

probe 24 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 24 th target sequence CCCACAAGCGCCGACTGTCGG [SEQ ID NO:24], or to the complement thereof;

probe 25 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 25 th target sequence ACAAGCGCCGACTGTCGGCGC [SEQ ID NO:25], or to the complement thereof;

probe 26 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 26 th target sequence AGCGCCGACTGTCGGCGCTGG [SEQ ID NO:26], or to the complement thereof;

probe 27 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 27 th target sequence GCCGACTGTCGGCGCTGGGGC [SEQ ID NO:27], or to the complement thereof;

probe 28 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 28 th target sequence GACTGTCGGCGCTGGGGCCCG [SEQ ID NO:28], or to the complement thereof;

probe 29 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 20 nucleotides that binds to a 29 th target sequence TGTCGGCGCTGGGGCCCGGC [SEQ ID NO:29], or to the complement thereof;

probe 30 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 20 nucleotides that binds to a 30 th target sequence CGGCGCTGGGGCCCGGCGGT [SEQ ID NO:30], or to the complement thereof;

probe 31 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 20 nucleotides that binds to a 31 st target sequence CGCTGGGGCCCGGCGGTCTG [SEQ ID NO:31], or to the complement thereof; and

probe 32 comprises a nucleic acid sequence of about 21 nucleotides that binds to a 32 nd target sequence TGGGGCCCGGCGGTCTGTCAC [SEQ ID NO:32], or to the complement thereof.

2 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 1 , wherein subset (c) includes at least six probes.

3 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 2 , wherein both subset (a) and subset (b) are included in the set.

4 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 3 , wherein each of probes 1-32 are between about 10 and about 50 nucleotides long.

5 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 4 , wherein the set consists of probes 1-10.

6 . A set of nucleic acid probes for use in an assay for detecting multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. in a sample, which set includes subset (c) and one or both of subset (a) and subset (b), wherein:

subset (a) is probe 1 or probe 2;

subset (b) is probe 3 or probe 4; and

subset (c) is one or more of probes 5-32;

wherein further:

probe 1 comprises TGCCGCTGGT [SEQ ID NO:59] or GATGCCGCTGGTGAT [SEQ ID NO:69] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 2 comprises CACCACCGGC [SEQ ID NO:60] or ATCACCACCGGCATC [SEQ ID NO:70] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 3 comprises CGAGACGATA [SEQ ID NO:61] or GGCGAGACGATAGGT [SEQ ID NO:71] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 4 comprises CGAGATGATA [SEQ ID NO:62] or GGCGAGATGATAGGT [SEQ ID NO:72] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 5 comprises GAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:63] or AGCTGAGCCAATTCATG [SEQ ID NO:73] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 6 comprises CATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:64] or AATTCATGGACCAGAACA [SEQ ID NO:74] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 7 comprises CAGAACAACC [SEQ ID NO:65] or ACCAGAACAACCCGC [SEQ ID NO:75] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 8 comprises CGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:66] or ACCCGCTGTCGGGGTT [SEQ ID NO:76] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 9 comprises ACCCACAAGC [SEQ ID NO:67] or TGACCCACAAGCGCC [SEQ ID NO:77] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 10 comprises TCGGCACTGG [SEQ ID NO:68] or CTGTCGGCACTGGGGCC [SEQ ID NO:78] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 11 comprises CAGCCAGCCAGCTGAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:11] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 12 comprises CCAGCCAGCTGAGCCAATTCATG [SEQ ID NO:12] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 13 comprises AGCTGAGCCAATTCATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:13] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 14 comprises TGAGCCAATTCATGGACCAGAACA [SEQ ID NO:14] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 15 comprises AATTCATGGACCAGAACAACCCGC [SEQ ID NO:15] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 16 comprises TCATGGACCAGAACAACCCGCTG [SEQ ID NO:16] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 17 comprises ACCAGAACAACCCGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:17] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 18 comprises AGAACAACCCGCTGTCGGGGTT [SEQ ID NO:18] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 19 comprises ACCCGCTGTCGGGGTTGACCC [SEQ ID NO:19] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 20 comprises CGCTGTCGGGGTTGACCCACAA [SEQ ID NO:20] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 21 comprises TGTCGGGGTTGACCCACAAGCG [SEQ ID NO:21] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 22 comprises CGGGGTTGACCCACAAGCGCC [SEQ ID NO:22] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 23 comprises TGACCCACAAGCGCCGACTGTC [SEQ ID NO:23] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 24 comprises CCCACAAGCGCCGACTGTCGG [SEQ ID NO:24] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 25 comprises ACAAGCGCCGACTGTCGGCGC [SEQ ID NO:25] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 26 comprises AGCGCCGACTGTCGGCGCTGG [SEQ ID NO:26] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 27 comprises GCCGACTGTCGGCGCTGGGGC [SEQ ID NO:27] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 28 comprises GACTGTCGGCGCTGGGGCCCG [SEQ ID NO:28] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 29 comprises TGTCGGCGCTGGGGCCCGGC [SEQ ID NO:29] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 30 comprises CGGCGCTGGGGCCCGGCGGT [SEQ ID NO:30] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

probe 31 comprises CGCTGGGGCCCGGCGGTCTG [SEQ ID NO:31] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto; and

probe 32 comprises TGGGGCCCGGCGGTCTGTCAC [SEQ ID NO:32] or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto;

wherein the underlined nucleotides within the sequences of probes 1, 2, 3, and 4 may not be substituted by any other nucleotide.

7 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 6 , wherein subset (c) includes at least six probes.

8 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 7 , wherein both subset (a) and subset (b) are included in the set.

9 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 8 , wherein each of probes 1-32 are between about 10 and about 50 nucleotides long.

10 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 9 , wherein the set consists of probes 1-10.

11 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 6 , wherein each of probes 1-32 comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to the respective sequences.

12 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 9 , wherein:

probe 1 comprises SEQ ID NO:1, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 2 comprises SEQ ID NO:2, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 3 comprises SEQ ID NO:3, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 4 comprises SEQ ID NO:4, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 5 comprises SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 6 comprises SEQ ID NO:6, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 7 comprises SEQ ID NO:7, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 8 comprises SEQ ID NO:8, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 9 comprises SEQ ID NO:9, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 10 comprises SEQ ID NO:10, or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

wherein the underlined residues within SEQ ID NOs:1, 2, 3 and 4 may not be substituted by any other nucleotide.

13 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 12 , wherein the set consists of probes 1-10.

14 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 9 , wherein said probes are immobilised onto a solid support.

15 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 6 , wherein said probes each have a 3′ poly-T tail.

16 . A method of detecting the presence or absence of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. in a sample, comprising:

(a) combining a set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 9 and a nucleic acid-containing sample;

(b) incubating the nucleic acid probes and the sample under conditions that (i) promote hybridization of complementary DNA and (ii) generate a detectable signal that is associated with said hybridization between one or more of said nucleic acid probes and its or their respective target Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid sequence(s); and

(c) detecting said detectable signal;

wherein said probes are immobilised onto a solid support and the detectable signal is associated with the locations of each of the immobilised probes.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the presence of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. in said sample is detected by:

(i) detecting a detectable signal that is associated with hybridization between probe 2 or probe 4 and the respective bound target Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid sequences; and

(ii) observing the absence of a detectable signal with respect to: probe 1 if probe 2 is employed in the detecting step; probe 3 if probe 4 is employed in the detecting step; and one or more probes of subset (c).

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the observing step employs at least six probes of subset (c).

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the detecting step employs probe 2 and probe 4.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the absence of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. from said sample is detected by:

(i) detecting a detectable signal that is associated with hybridization between the respective bound target Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid sequences in the sample and the following: probe 1 if probe 2 is employed in the observing step; probe 3 if probe 4 is employed in the observing step; and one or more probes of subset (c); and

(ii) observing the absence of a detectable signal with respect to probe 2 or probe 4.

21 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the observing step employs probe 2 and probe 4.

22 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of amplifying Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid in the sample.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein said amplification step comprises the step of labeling the Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid.

24 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said detectable signal is a fluorescent signal.

25 . A probe selected from the group consisting of:

probe 1, comprising the sequence TGCCGCTGGT [SEQ ID NO:59] or GATGCCGCTGGTGAT [SEQ ID NO:69] or SEQ ID NO:1, or consisting of the complement thereof; or comprising a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or consisting of the complement thereof;

probe 2, comprising the sequence CACCACCGGC [SEQ ID NO:60] or ATCACCACCGGCATC [SEQ ID NO:70] or SEQ ID NO:2, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 3, comprising the sequence CGAGACGATA [SEQ ID NO:61] or GGCGAGACGATAGGT [SEQ ID NO:71] or SEQ ID NO:3, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 4, comprising the sequence CGAGATGATA [SEQ ID NO:62] or GGCGAGATGATAGGT [SEQ ID NO:72] or SEQ ID NO:4, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 5, comprising the sequence GAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:63] or AGCTGAGCCAATTCATG [SEQ ID NO:73] or SEQ ID NO:5, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 6, comprising the sequence CATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:64] or AATTCATGGACCAGAACA [SEQ ID NO:74] or SEQ ID NO:6, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 7, comprising the sequence CAGAACAACC [SEQ ID NO:65] or ACCAGAACAACCCGC [SEQ ID NO:75] or SEQ ID NO:7, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 8, comprising the sequence CGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:66] or ACCCGCTGTCGGGGTT [SEQ ID NO:76] or SEQ ID NO:8, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 9, comprising the sequence ACCCACAAGC [SEQ ID NO:67] or TGACCCACAAGCGCC [SEQ ID NO:77] or SEQ ID NO:9, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 10, comprising the sequence TCGGCACTGG [SEQ ID NO:68] or CTGTCGGCACTGGGGCC [SEQ ID NO:78] or SEQ ID NO:10, or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 11, comprising the sequence CAGCCAGCCAGCTGAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:11], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 12, comprising the sequence CCAGCCAGCTGAGCCAATTCATG [SEQ ID NO:12], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 13, comprising the sequence AGCTGAGCCAATTCATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:13], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 14, comprising the sequence TGAGCCAATTCATGGACCAGAACA [SEQ ID NO:14], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 15, comprising the sequence AATTCATGGACCAGAACAACCCGC [SEQ ID NO:15], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 16, comprising the sequence TCATGGACCAGAACAACCCGCTG [SEQ ID NO:16], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 17, comprising the sequence ACCAGAACAACCCGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:17], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 18, comprising the sequence AGAACAACCCGCTGTCGGGGTT [SEQ ID NO:18], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 19, comprising the sequence ACCCGCTGTCGGGGTTGACCC [SEQ ID NO:19], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 20, comprising the sequence CGCTGTCGGGGTTGACCCACAA [SEQ ID NO:20], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 21, comprising the sequence TGTCGGGGTTGACCCACAAGCG [SEQ ID NO:21], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 22, comprising the sequence CGGGGTTGACCCACAAGCGCC [SEQ ID NO:22], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 23, comprising the sequence TGACCCACAAGCGCCGACTGTC [SEQ ID NO:23], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 24, comprising the sequence CCCACAAGCGCCGACTGTCGG [SEQ ID NO:24], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 25, comprising the sequence ACAAGCGCCGACTGTCGGCGC [SEQ ID NO:25], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 26, comprising the sequence AGCGCCGACTGTCGGCGCTGG [SEQ ID NO:26], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 27, comprising the sequence GCCGACTGTCGGCGCTGGGGC [SEQ ID NO:27], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 28, comprising the sequence GACTGTCGGCGCTGGGGCCCG [SEQ ID NO:28], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 29, comprising the sequence TGTCGGCGCTGGGGCCCGGC [SEQ ID NO:29], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 30, comprising the sequence CGGCGCTGGGGCCCGGCGGT [SEQ ID NO:30], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 31, comprising the sequence CGCTGGGGCCCGGCGGTCTG [SEQ ID NO:31], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof; and

probe 32, comprising the sequence TGGGGCCCGGCGGTCTGTCAC [SEQ ID NO:32], or the complement thereof; or a sequence that is at least 80% identical thereto, or the complement thereof;

wherein the underlined nucleotides within the sequences of probes 1, 2, 3, and 4 may not be substituted by any other nucleotide.

26 . The probe of claim 25 , wherein the probe is selected from the group consisting of:

probe 1, comprising the sequence TGCCGCTGGT [SEQ ID NO:59], or consisting of the complement thereof; or comprising a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or consisting of the complement thereof;

probe 2, comprising the sequence CACCACCGGC [SEQ ID NO:60], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 3, comprising the sequence CGAGACGATA [SEQ ID NO:61], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 4, comprising the sequence CGAGATGATA [SEQ ID NO:62], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 5, comprising the sequence GAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:63], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 6, comprising the sequence CATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:64], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 7, comprising the sequence CAGAACAACC [SEQ ID NO:65], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 8, comprising the sequence CGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:66], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof;

probe 9, comprising the sequence ACCCACAAGC [SEQ ID NO:67], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof; and

probe 10, comprising the sequence TCGGCACTGG [SEQ ID NO:68], or the complement thereof; or a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, or the complement thereof.

27 . The probe according to claim 25 , wherein the probe is between about 10 and about 50 nucleotides long.

28 . A kit for detection of a nucleic acid associated with multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp., comprising a probe according to claim 25 .

29 . A kit for detection of a nucleic acid associated with multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp., comprising a set of probes according to claim 6 .

30 . A set of nucleic acid probes for use in an assay for detecting multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. in a sample, which set includes:

probe 1 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a first target sequence ACCAGCGGCA [SEQ ID NO:39], or to the complement thereof;

probe 2 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a second target sequence GCCGGTGGTG [SEQ ID NO:40], or to the complement thereof;

probe 5 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a fifth target sequence GAATTGGCTC [SEQ ID NO:43], or to the complement thereof;

probe 6 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a sixth target sequence CTGGTCCATG [SEQ ID NO:44], or to the complement thereof;

probe 7 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a seventh target sequence GGTTGTTCTG [SEQ ID NO:45], or to the complement thereof;

probe 8 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to an eighth target sequence CCCGACAGCG [SEQ ID NO:46], or to the complement thereof;

probe 9 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a ninth target sequence GCTTGTGGGT [SEQ ID NO:47], or to the complement thereof;

probe 10 comprising a nucleic acid sequence of 10 nucleotides that binds to a tenth target sequence CCAGTGCCGA [SEQ ID NO:48], or to the complement thereof.

31 . The set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 30 , which set includes:

probe 1 comprising the sequence TGCCGCTGGT [SEQ ID NO:59], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 2 comprising the sequence CACCACCGGC [SEQ ID NO:60], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 5 comprising the sequence GAGCCAATTC [SEQ ID NO:63], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 6 comprising the sequence CATGGACCAG [SEQ ID NO:64], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 7 comprising the sequence CAGAACAACC [SEQ ID NO:65], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 8 comprising the sequence CGCTGTCGGG [SEQ ID NO:66], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 9 comprising the sequence ACCCACAAGC [SEQ ID NO:67], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

probe 10 comprising the sequence TCGGCACTGG [SEQ ID NO:68], or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity thereto;

wherein the underlined nucleotides within the sequences of probes 1, 2, 3, and 4 may not be substituted by any other nucleotide.

32 . A method of detecting the presence or absence of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. in a sample, comprising:

(a) combining a set of nucleic acid probes according to claim 30 and a nucleic acid-containing sample;

(b) incubating the nucleic acid probes and the nucleic acid-containing sample under conditions that (i) promote hybridization of complementary DNA and (ii) generate a detectable signal that is associated with said hybridization between one or more of said nucleic acid probes and its or their respective target Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid sequence(s); and

(c) detecting said detectable signal;

wherein said probes are immobilised onto a solid support and the detectable signal is associated with the locations of each of the immobilised probes.

33 . A kit for detection of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium sp. nucleic acid comprising a set of probes according to claim 30 .