Virology (TB)

Gene Cluster May Be Key to M. tuberculosis Virulence

Published in TB and Outbreaks Week, December 14th, 1998

Harvard University researchers have identified a Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene cluster encoding the biosynthetic enzymes for assembly of the virulence-conferring siderophore mycobactin.

Many pathogenic bacteria secrete iron-chelating siderophores as virulence factors in the iron-limiting environments of their vertebrate hosts to compete for ferric iron. M. tuberculosis mycobactins are mixed polyketide/nonribosomal peptides that contain a hydroxyaryloxazoline cap and two N-hydroxyamides that together create a high-affinity site for ferric ion.

The mycobactin structure is analogous to that of the yersiniabactin and vibriobactin...

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Source: TB and Outbreaks Week (1998-12-14)

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