Mycolic acid biosynthesis and processing in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

结核分枝杆菌中分枝菌酸的生物合成和加工

• 批准号: G0600105/1
• 负责人: Apoorva Bhatt
• 金额: $ 86.17万
• 依托单位: University of Birmingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2006 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=G0600105%2F1
• 关键词: Mycolic; acid; biosynthesis; processing; Mycobacterium

The tuberculosis-causing, human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) contains a lipid rich ‘waxy‘ cell wall that forms a protective barrier against harsh environments. Mycobacterial lipids not only offer a protective cover, but are also involved in interactions with infected host cells. Furthermore, some lipid components are essential for the survival of MTB and thus the enzymes that catalyze their biosynthesis represent potential targets for antimycobacterial drugs. The proposed project aims to further our understanding about how these lipid building blocks are made by generating defined mutants of MTB in candidate genes. The mutant strains will then be tested for loss of lipid components and/or accumulation of intermediate compounds. The study also aims to assess the role of specific lipids in virulence by testing these mutant strains in laboratory models of infection. The hope is that these studies will aid in our search not only for new drugs effective against tuberculosis, but also a better vaccine.

引起结核病的人类病原体结核分枝杆菌（MTB）含有富含脂质的“蜡状”细胞壁，其形成对恶劣环境的保护屏障。分枝杆菌脂质不仅提供了一个保护层，而且还参与了与受感染宿主细胞的相互作用。此外，一些脂质组分对于MTB的存活是必需的，因此催化其生物合成的酶代表了抗分枝杆菌药物的潜在靶标。拟议的项目旨在进一步了解这些脂质构建模块是如何通过在候选基因中产生MTB的定义突变体来制造的。然后检测突变菌株的脂质组分损失和/或中间化合物蓄积。该研究还旨在通过在实验室感染模型中测试这些突变株来评估特定脂质在毒力中的作用。希望这些研究不仅能帮助我们寻找有效的抗结核新药，还能帮助我们寻找更好的疫苗。