PhoP, a key player in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence

作者:Ryndak Michelle; Wang Shuishu; Smith Issar*
来源:Trends in Microbiology, 2008, 16(11): 528-534.
DOI:10.1016/j.tim.2008.08.006

摘要

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoPR two-component system is essential for virulence in animal models of tuberculosis. Recent articles have shown that among the reasons for the attenuation of the M. tuberculosis H37Ra strain is a mutation in the phoP gene that prevents the secretion of proteins that are important for virulence. There is a need for new anti-tubercular therapies because of the emergence of multi-drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains and also the variable efficacy of the currently used bacille Calmette-Gue3rin vaccine. Because of its major role in M. tuberculosis pathogenicity, PhoP is a potential target candidate. This review summarizes our understanding of PhoPR's role in virulence and discusses areas in which our knowledge is limited.

  • 出版日期2008-11