Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

Non-canonical peptidoglycan cross-linking is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis acid resistance

This study identifies LdtB as essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis acid resistance by linking peptidoglycan cross-linking to intrabacterial pH homeostasis and antibiotic susceptibility.

Stress-responsive Mycobacterium tuberculosis subpopulations manipulate macrophage polarization and can be targeted to limit inflammation

The paper identifies stress-responsive Mycobacterium tuberculosis subpopulations that influence macrophage polarization and shows targeting GroEL2 can limit inflammation.

CD39 REGULATES P2RX7-MEDIATED LUNG NECROTIC LESIONS IN SEVERE EXPERIMENTAL TUBERCULOSIS

This study shows CD39 prevents necrotic lung lesions in tuberculosis by inhibiting P2RX7-mediated macrophage death and inflammation.

Metabolic control of drug resistance by a mycobacterial ion channel

The paper identifies Rv2571c as a mycobacterial ion channel that mediates pyrazinamide resistance by regulating cytoplasmic acidification.

Visualizing early Mycobacterium tuberculosis interactions with murine lung macrophages using intravital imaging

This paper develops a BSL-2-compatible intravital imaging protocol to visualize early Mycobacterium tuberculosis interactions with murine lung macrophages in real time.

Mycobacterial infection uncovers plasticity of Kupffer cells

The paper investigates KC plasticity in mycobacterial infections, finding that KClow cells derived from bona fide KCs exhibit unique antimycobacterial activity and adaptability.

A frameshift mutation in the methyltransferase rlmN is associated with increased linezolid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The paper identifies a frameshift mutation in rlmN as a significant contributor to linezolid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, beyond known mutations in rrl and rplC.

MSMEG_1353 is a critical determinant of metabolic and cell envelope homeostasis in mycobacteria

This study identifies MSMEG_1353 as an essential ATP-binding protein critical for metabolic homeostasis and cell envelope integrity in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Antiretroviral treatment does not prevent extrapulmonary tuberculosis during SIV/Mtb co-infection in macaques

This study shows that antiretroviral treatment (ART) does not prevent extrapulmonary tuberculosis in SIV/Mtb co-infected macaques, despite suppressing SIV replication.

Improved Immune Responses and Tuberculosis Protection by Aerosol Vaccination with recombinant BCG expressing ESX-1 from Mycobacterium marinum

This study compares aerosol and subcutaneous vaccination with BCG and BCG::ESX-1Mmar, finding aerosol vaccination enhances immune responses and protection against tuberculosis in mice.

Proteomic And Transcriptomic Host Biomarkers For Detection Of Pleural Tuberculosis

This study identifies proteomic and transcriptomic host biomarkers in blood and pleural fluid to differentiate pleural tuberculosis from other pleural diseases using low-invasive methods.

Exquisite specificity of Pks13 defines the essentiality of trehalose in mycobacteria

This study investigates the role of trehalose in mycolic acid biosynthesis in mycobacteria, showing its essentiality through Pks13 specificity and demonstrating that trehalose dimycolate is dispensable for growth.

Feature-based in-silico model to predict the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bedaquiline phenotype associated with Rv0678 variants

The paper develops a machine learning model to predict bedaquiline resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis based on Rv0678 variants, achieving high accuracy in internal validation.

Proteomic insights into a M. tuberculosis clinical isolate with an increased propensity to form viable but non-replicating subpopulations during acid stress

This study uses proteomics to analyze M. tuberculosis S169 under acid stress, identifying changes in protein expression associated with viable but non-replicating subpopulations.

Serine/threonine protein kinase phosphorylation of DosR alters target gene transcription mechanics and regulates Mycobacterium tuberculosis sensitivity to nitric oxide stress

This study shows that STPK phosphorylation of DosR in Mtb reduces its transcriptional activity and alters its response to nitric oxide stress, highlighting a regulatory interaction between STPKs and TCSs.

Intracellular compartmentalization shapes lipid access and metabolic fitness of mycobacteria

The paper shows that lipid metabolism in mycobacteria is linked to their subcellular location, with FACL6 deletion disrupting lipid handling and reducing intracellular fitness.

Menaquinone depletion resensitises bedaquiline-resistant tuberculosis

This study identifies MenG inhibitors that restore bedaquiline susceptibility in resistant tuberculosis strains through menaquinone pathway disruption.

Macrophage adaptation to hypoxia in the tuberculous granuloma potentiates mycobacterium-induced mitochondrial damage and granuloma necrosis

The paper shows that EsxA-induced mitochondrial damage in macrophages, combined with hypoxia-driven HIF-1 suppression of respiration, leads to granuloma necrosis and facilitates tuberculosis transmission.

A Peptide-Based Assay for Profiling Activity and Inhibitors of Mycobacterial L,D-Transpeptidases

This paper develops a high-throughput peptide-based assay to profile L,D-transpeptidase activity and inhibitors in mycobacteria, showing potent inhibition by (carba)penems.

Therapeutic DNA Vaccine Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Persisters Shortens Curative Tuberculosis Treatment

A DNA vaccine targeting Mtb persisters reduces TB treatment duration in mice and elicits similar immune responses in macaques.

Sorting nexin 5 mediates antigen presentation and immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study identifies SNX5 as a regulator of MHC-II antigen presentation during Mtb infection, linking endosomal sorting to immune responses against intracellular pathogens.

Predicting early bactericidal activity of tuberculosis drug combinations using a translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling approach

This paper predicts the early bactericidal activity of tuberculosis drug combinations using a translational PK-PD modeling approach, showing consistent interaction patterns and reliable predictions for clinical outcomes.

PefA, an ALG-2-like Ca2+ sensor, regulates ESCRT and autophagy responses to mycobacterial vacuole damage

This study identifies PefA, a Ca2+ sensor, as a regulator of ESCRT and autophagy responses to mycobacterial vacuole damage, showing its role in maintaining vacuolar integrity and infection outcomes.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESX-5 secretion system enables carbon source utilization and growth in mice

This study shows that the M. tuberculosis ESX-5 secretion system is critical for growth on specific carbon sources, survival in macrophages, and replication in mice, suggesting it is a key virulence factor.

HIV IMPAIRS AND EXPLOITS PULMONARY TH17 AND TH22 CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSES TO MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

This study investigates how HIV affects Th17 and Th22 cell-mediated immunity in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infection using a humanized mouse model.

Whole blood transcriptional responses associated with bacterial burden in pulmonary tuberculosis

This study identifies a 1,093-gene module associated with Mtb burden in PTB, driven by neutrophils and monocytes, and highlights CNIH4 as a key predictor of bacterial burden.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of protocols and yield of direct from sputum sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This study identifies factors affecting the success of direct sputum whole genome sequencing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, highlighting optimal pre-processing steps and the negative impact of sodium hydroxide decontamination.

Mast cells promote pathology and susceptibility in tuberculosis

This study shows mast cells drive tuberculosis pathology by promoting inflammation and Mtb dissemination, with distinct transcriptional programs in active versus latent infection.

Cysteine reactivity profiling identifies host regulators of Mycobacterium tuberculosis replication in human macrophages

The paper identifies host proteins regulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis replication in macrophages using cysteine reactivity profiling and genetic perturbation.

Mafb Deficiency in Myeloid Cells Increases Susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Mice

This study shows that Mafb deficiency in myeloid cells increases susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice by impairing macrophage function and immune cell recruitment.