Mycobacterial persistence: adaptation to a changing environment

• Published in: Trends in Microbiology 2001-12, Vol.9 (12), p.597-605
• Main Authors: Bentrup, Kerstin Höner zu, Russell, David G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; bacterial metabolism; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Chronic Disease; fatty acids; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; glyoxylate bypass; granuloma; Humans; latent TB; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - genetics; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - pathogenicity; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - physiology; persistence; TCA cycle; Time Factors; Tuberculosis - microbiology
• ISSN: 0966-842X; 1878-4380
• DOI: 10.1016/S0966-842X(01)02238-7

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacterial pathogen that can persist within an infected individual for extended periods of time without causing overt, clinical disease, in a state normally referred to as latent or chronic tuberculosis. Although the replicative state of the bacterium during this period is a matter of some conjecture, recent developments have indicated that the bacterium requires the regulated expression of a set of genes and metabolic pathways to maintain a persistent infection in an immunocompetent host. The characterization of these gene products and their role in bacterial metabolism and physiology is starting to provide insights into the mechanisms that M. tuberculosis has evolved to adopt its highly successful mode of pathogenicity. Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires the regulated expression of a set of genes and metabolic pathways to maintain a persistent infection in an immunocompetent host. This review gives a brief overview of recent developments that could lead to novel targets for combating latent TB.