Fol. Biol. 2000, 46, 127-130
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Human Macrophage: the Bacillus with "Environment-Sensing"
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the aetiologic agent of tuberculosis, is an obligate pathogen of mammals and is responsible for an incredible toll of human life every year (World Heath Organization, 1999). Even among pathogens, MTB is noteworthy for having selected a particularly difficult lifestyle, inhabiting one of the most inhospitable cell types, the alveolar macrophage. Nevertheless, MTB is able to survive and replicate in such an environment, even in immunocompetent individuals, where it is also able to remain silent, even for lifetime.
Funding
This study received financial support from Target Oriented Biotechnology Project National Council of Research 1997-1999, Second Research Project on Tuberculosis of the Italian Institute of Health, and MURST-CNR Biotechnology Program L. 95/95.
References
Copyright
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.