Mycobacteria are characterized by a complex cell wall, the lipid nature of which confers to the bacilli resistance to drying, acid or alkaline conditions, and to chemical disinfectants and therapeutic agents. Pathogenic species, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. leprae and M. ulcerans, have evolved various strategies to establish residence in their hosts and provoke long-term infections. There is mounting evidence that the unique lipids composing their envelopes, strategically located at the host-pathogen interface, contribute to their escape from immune surveillance. Here, the chemical structure, host cell receptors and biological actions of this emerging class of mycobacterial virulence factors are reviewed.
BT - Transboundary and emerging diseases C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19486312?dopt=Abstract DA - 2009 Aug DO - 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2009.01072.x IS - 6-7 J2 - Transbound Emerg Dis LA - eng N2 -Mycobacteria are characterized by a complex cell wall, the lipid nature of which confers to the bacilli resistance to drying, acid or alkaline conditions, and to chemical disinfectants and therapeutic agents. Pathogenic species, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. leprae and M. ulcerans, have evolved various strategies to establish residence in their hosts and provoke long-term infections. There is mounting evidence that the unique lipids composing their envelopes, strategically located at the host-pathogen interface, contribute to their escape from immune surveillance. Here, the chemical structure, host cell receptors and biological actions of this emerging class of mycobacterial virulence factors are reviewed.
PY - 2009 SP - 255 EP - 68 T2 - Transboundary and emerging diseases TI - Lipids of pathogenic Mycobacteria: contributions to virulence and host immune suppression. VL - 56 SN - 1865-1674 ER -