lysX gene is differentially expressed among Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with different levels of virulence
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are mainly produced by epithelial cells and macrophages to eliminate infecting mycobacteria through direct antimicrobial activity and immunomodulation. Indeed, it has been described that this line of defense is essential to control infection. However, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has developed mechanisms to avoid AMPs activity, for instance lysX adds lysine residues to surface phospholipids changing their net charge, leading to the repelling of the AMPs. In the present study, we determined that lysX gene is differentially expressed among Mtb strains.
Source: Tuberculosis - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Alejandra Montoya-Rosales, Roberta Provvedi, Flor Torres-Juarez, Jose A. Enciso-Moreno, Rogelio Hernandez-Pando, Riccardo Manganelli, Bruno Rivas-Santiago Tags: Mechanisms of Pathogenesis Source Type: research