New tuberculosis study findings have been reported by C.D. Sohaskey and co-researchers
February 9th, 2009
2009 FEB 9 -- "Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis can produce tuberculosis in humans. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has low nitrate reductase activity during aerobic growth (AG), but shows strong hypoxic induction. Virulent M. bovis has weak activity during AG with no hypoxic induction," scientists in the United States report.
"Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) lacks activity in both stages. Transcription of narG of the nitrate reductase enzyme operon was higher in M. tuberculosis than in M. bovis or BCG. Transcription of narK2 encoding the nitrate transporter was induced by hypoxia in M. tuberculosis but not M. bovis or BCG. Insertion of the M. tuberculosis narGHJI operon into M. bovis resulted in increased activity only during AG," wrote C.D. Sohaskey and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "Regulation of both the nitrate reductase enzyme and transporter are regulated differently in the two species."
Sohaskey and colleagues published their study in Fems Microbiology Letters (Differences in nitrate reduction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis are due to differential expression of both narGHJI and narK2. Fems Microbiology Letters, 2009;290(2):129-134).
For additional information, contact C.D. Sohaskey, Dept. of Vet. Affairs Med Center, TB Research Laboratory 151, 5901 E 7th St., Long Beach, CA 90822, USA.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Fems Microbiology Letters is: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.
Keywords: United States, Long Beach, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Enzyme Research, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Reductase.
This article was prepared by Proteomics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Proteomics Weekly via NewsRx.com.
