The role of lipids and glycolipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogenic mycobacteria in phagosome maturation and intracellular survival

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ulrich E. Schaible
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2002 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5373367

Pathogenic mycobacteria such as M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, are facultative intracellular parasites of host macrophages. One of their hallmarks of virulence is the inhibition of phagosome maturation. Arresting the mycobacterial phagosomes at an early endosomal stage facilitates intersection with the host cell iron transport pathway, and intracellular survival and growth of mycobacteria. Furthermore, upon infection of macrophages, these important effector cells are hampered in their microbicidal mechanisms and activating signalling cascades are disrupted. However, the virulence factors responsible for intracellular survival of mycobacteria have not been characterised to date. The mycobacterial cell wall consists of an array of unusual hydrophobic molecules, lipids and glycolipids, which are prime candidates to be involved in virulence. This project will elucidate the role of mycobacterial lipids and glycolipids in the inhibition of phagosome maturation and the intracellular survival of M. tuberculosis.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1131: Life Inside Cells