The thick waxy coat of mycobacteria, a protective layer against antibiotics and the host's immune system | Zendy

Sarah M. Batt | Zendy; David E. Minnikin | Zendy; Gurdyal S. Besra | Zendy

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The thick waxy coat of mycobacteria, a protective layer against antibiotics and the host's immune system

Author(s) -

Sarah M. Batt,

David E. Minnikin,

Gurdyal S. Besra

Publication year - 2020

Publication title -

biochemical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 1.706

H-Index - 265

eISSN - 1470-8728

pISSN - 0264-6021

DOI - 10.1042/bcj20200194

Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , immune system , biology , pathogen , tuberculosis , infectivity , bacteria , antibiotics , cell envelope , pathogenesis , pathogenic bacteria , immunity , cell wall , mycobacterium , virology , immunology , virus , biochemistry , medicine , gene , genetics , pathology , escherichia coli

Tuberculosis, caused by the pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease, with a mortality rate of over a million people per year. This pathogen's remarkable resilience and infectivity is largely due to its unique waxy cell envelope, 40% of which comprises complex lipids. Therefore, an understanding of the structure and function of the cell wall lipids is of huge indirect clinical significance. This review provides a synopsis of the cell envelope and the major lipids contained within, including structure, biosynthesis and roles in pathogenesis.

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