Validation of 23 selected candidates by Northern blot.

aLength of the principal bands visualized by Northern blot analysis.bThe presence of a −10 sigA consensus sequence about thirty-eight nucleotides upstream of the predicted 5′end suggests that the sRNAs length is in accordance with the band observed by Northern blot.cType C candidate.dNegative control.eNorthern blot tested in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, exponential and stationary growth phases.fNorthern blot tested in M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. tuberculosis H37Ra (exponential growth phase).gconsidering 3′-end mapping according to Northern blot results (175 nucleotides downstream the predicted 3′-end).hconsidering the 5′-end mapping according to the 5′-end primer extension.