01514nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653001200051653002700063653002100090653001400111653001100125653001600136653001800152653003200170653002900202653002500231653002600256653003100282653001400313100001200327700001500339700001900354245005300373300001100426490000700437520074200444022001401186       2003                            d  c200310aAnimals10aDisease Models, Animal10aGenes, Bacterial10aGranuloma10aHumans10aMacrophages10aMycobacterium10aMycobacterium avium Complex10aMycobacterium Infections10aMycobacterium leprae10aMycobacterium marinum10aMycobacterium tuberculosis10aVirulence1 aCosma C1 aSherman DR1 aRamakrishnan L00aThe secret lives of the pathogenic mycobacteria.  a641-760 v573 a<p>Pathogenic mycobacteria, including the causative agents of tuberculosis and leprosy, are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. A hallmark of these pathogens is their tendency to establish chronic infections that produce similar pathologies in a variety of hosts. During infection, mycobacteria reside in macrophages and induce the formation of granulomas, organized immune complexes of differentiated macrophages, lymphocytes, and other cells. This review summarizes our understanding of Mycobacterium-host cell interactions, the bacterial-granuloma interface, and mechanisms of bacterial virulence and persistence. In addition, we highlight current controversies and unanswered questions in these areas.</p>  a0066-4227