Studies of nutrient uptake in Mycobacterium bovis - the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis

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Bovine tuberculosis is a disease of global importance. It is estimated that the worldwide losses to agriculture from this disease amount to $3 billion per annum. The major causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (TB) is Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Bovine TB is a disease of high economic relevance within livestock farming since it directly affects animal productivity and influences the export of meat and dairy products. In this project we want to determine how M. bovis obtains and exploits essential nutrients - with the aim of determining the essentiality of these uptake systems and determining the structure, function and mechanisms of these transport systems. We will undertake a cutting-edge multidisciplinary approach to understand the key nutrient transport processes of this pathogen. This research has clear potential to impact on the agricultural industry with biotechnological applications.