Critical role of AIM2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Role of cholesterol in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) acquisition and utilization of nutrients within the host cell is poorly understood, although it has been hypothesized that host lipids probably play an important role in MTB survival. Cholesterol has recently been identified as an important lipid for mycobacterial infection. The mce4 transport system is required for cholesterol import into bacterial cells, and d...

The critical role of embC in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Arabinan polymers are major components of the cell wall in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are involved in maintaining its structure, as well as playing a role in host-pathogen interactions. In particular, lipoarabinomannan (LAM) has multiple immunomodulatory effects. In the nonpathogenic species Mycobacterium smegmatis, EmbC has been identified as a key arabinosyltransferase involved in the inc...

Ethambutol resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: critical role of embB mutations.

Ethambutol [(S,S')-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)di-1-butanol; EMB], is a first-line drug used to treat tuberculosis. To gain insight into the molecular basis of EMB resistance, we characterized the 10-kb embCAB locus in 16 EMB-resistant and 3 EMB-susceptible genetically distinct Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from diverse localities by automated DNA sequencing and single-stranded conformation poly...

Is Critical for Host Control of Chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

The role of dendritic cells in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

The immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is multifactorial, involving a network of innate and adaptive immune responses. Characterization of the immune response, a clear understanding of the dynamics and interplay of different arms of the immune response are critical to allow the development of better tools for combating tuberculosis. Dendritic cells (DCs) are one of the key cells...