Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

The pH gradient contributes to persistence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study identifies niclosamide as a compound that induces drug tolerance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by disrupting the pH gradient, revealing a new mechanism for persister cell formation.

Metabolic tagging reveals surface-associated lipoproteins in mycobacteria

The paper uses metabolic tagging to identify surface-associated lipoproteins in mycobacteria, revealing their presence without known transporters.

HIV-1 Tat favors the multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and toxoplasma by inhibiting clathrin-mediated endocytosis and autophagy

The paper shows HIV-1 Tat enhances Mtb and Toxoplasma growth by inhibiting clathrin-mediated endocytosis and autophagy through PI(4,5)P2 binding and palmitoylation.

Incorporation of macrophage immune stresses into an assay for drug tolerance in intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This paper develops a 96-well plate assay to identify anti-TB drugs effective against drug-tolerant Mtb in macrophages, showing host immune stresses can induce tolerance or synergize with certain drugs.

PU.1 Shapes Host Epigenetic Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Represents a Target for Host Directed Therapy

This study identifies PU.1 as a key transcription factor regulating epigenetic responses to Mtb, showing its role in supporting infection and potential as a therapeutic target.

Cell cycle-dependent variation in endocytosis drives phenotypic diversity in M. tuberculosis

The paper shows that host cell cycle stages influence endocytic capacity and redox states in M. tuberculosis, leading to phenotypic diversity within infected cells.

Cathepsin Z is a conserved susceptibility factor underlying tuberculosis severity

This study identifies cathepsin Z as a susceptibility factor for tuberculosis severity in both mice and humans, showing its role in disease outcomes through genetic and cellular analyses.

Subpopulations in clinical samples of M. tuberculosis can give rise to rifampicin resistance and shed light on how resistance is acquired

This study improves rifampicin resistance prediction in M. tuberculosis by accounting for resistant subpopulations and compensatory mutations, increasing sensitivity without sacrificing specificity.

Loss of the ESX-5 secretion locus in Mycobacterium tuberculosis reshapes the mycomembrane and enhances ESX-1 substrate secretion

This study shows that deleting the ESX-5 secretion system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis reduces ESX-5 substrate secretion, increases ESX-1 substrates, decreases ESX-3 expression, and alters cell morphology and antibiotic susceptibility.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium kansasii and Rhodococcus equi induce macrophage necroptosis in the presence of a caspase inhibitor acting on a non-canonical target(s)

This study shows that z-VAD induces necroptosis in macrophages infected with Mtb, M. kansasii, and R. equi by acting on non-canonical targets, and MLKL deficiency reduces TB pathology in susceptible mice.

A new diagnostic modality for bovine tuberculosis: accurate and robust classification of infected cattle using transcriptomics and machine learning

The paper develops mRNA-based classifiers using RNA-seq and machine learning to accurately distinguish bTB-positive from bTB-negative cattle and other pathogens.

CD226 identifies effector CD8+ T cells during tuberculosis and costimulates recognition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages

The paper identifies CD226 as a marker distinguishing effector from dysfunctional CD8+ T cells in Mtb infection and shows its role in costimulating recognition of Mtb-infected macrophages.

Methodology for a freshly engineered or cryo-preserved 3D tuberculoma bioplatform for studying tuberculosis biology and high-content screening of therapeutics

This paper introduces a 3D tuberculoma bioplatform for studying tuberculosis biology and high-content screening, showing it can generate structured lesions and be scaled for high-throughput use.

Identification and characterization of host-directed therapeutics for tuberculosis using a versatile human 3D tuberculoma bioplatform

This paper develops a 3D bioplatform to screen host-directed therapeutics for tuberculosis, identifying compounds that reduce mycobacterial burdens and granuloma lesions.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis m4C DNA methyltransferase Rv3204 promotes mycobacteria survival under oxidative stress

This study identifies Rv3204 as an m4C DNA methyltransferase essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival under oxidative stress, showing its role in ROS homeostasis and antibiotic susceptibility.

c-Myc inhibits macrophage antimycobacterial response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

This study shows that c-Myc inhibition enhances macrophage antimycobacterial activity and reduces MTB persistence in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Monovalent Cation Dependent Oligomerization and DNA Binding of MoyR: a GntR family monooxygenase regulator in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study investigates the K+/Na+ dependent oligomerization and DNA binding mechanism of MoyR, a GntR family regulator in M. tuberculosis, revealing its role in gene regulation and potential as a drug target.

Proteomic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lacking a putative short-chain dehydrogenase (Rv0148)

This study performs proteomic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lacking Rv0148, identifying changes in protein expression and pathways related to stress response, cell wall, and metabolism.

Comprehensive identification of β-lactam antibiotic polypharmacology in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study identifies 30 Mtb enzymes inhibited by meropenem, revealing polypharmacology beyond known cell wall targets.

NRF2 inhibition of alveolar macrophage MHC II expression during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

This study shows NRF2 inhibits MHC II expression in alveolar macrophages during Mtb infection, impairing CD4+ T cell activation and host immunity.

Description of Bacterial RNA Transcripts Detected in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infected Cells from Peripheral Human Granulomas using Single Cell RNA Sequencing

The paper detects Mtb transcripts in human granuloma cells using scRNA-seq, finding sequence variations suggesting potential adaptive mechanisms.

Identification of mycobacterial efflux pump inhibiting compounds from Berberis holstii Engl. and determination of their mechanism of action

This study identifies compounds from Berberis holstii that inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis efflux pumps, showing synergistic effects with spectinomycin.

The PPE2 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for the development of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance during tuberculosis

This study identifies PPE2 as a Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein that induces insulin resistance and hyperglycemia by altering adipose tissue function and metabolism.

The repurposed STAT3 inhibitor pyrimethamine controls mycobacterial infection-induced vascular permeability and mycobacterial burden

The paper shows pyrimethamine, an FDA-approved drug, reduces vascular permeability and mycobacterial burden in a zebrafish infection model by inhibiting bacterial dihydrofolate reductase and restoring vascular barrier function.

Epistasis between drug resistance-conferring mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The paper shows that epistatic interactions between RpoB and GyrA mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis can lead to high-fitness double-resistant strains, which are prevalent in clinical isolates.

A modeling-based framework to evaluate forgiveness of TB drug combinations in a BALB/c relapsing mouse model.

This study evaluates the forgiveness of TB drug combinations using a mouse model, finding BPaMZ is more forgiving of missed doses than RHZE/RH.

Single-cell transcriptomic profiling reveals a novel signature of necrotizing granulomatous lesions in the lungs of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected C3HeB/FeJ mice

The paper uses single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze lung granulomas in M. tuberculosis-infected mice, identifying novel macrophage subtypes and markers associated with TB pathogenesis.

Putative MFS transporter Rv1250 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is involved in multidrug efflux activity

This study identifies Rv1250 as a multidrug efflux pump in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that enhances drug resistance by facilitating drug extrusion and biofilm formation.

Deubiquitinase USP15 restricts autophagy and macrophage immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study identifies USP15 as a negative regulator of autophagy and macrophage immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, showing that its inhibition reduces bacterial burden.

ESAT-6 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibits differentiation of human monocytes to dendritic cells

This study shows that ESAT-6 protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibits human monocyte differentiation into dendritic cells by suppressing NF-κB activation.