title: How does Mycobacterium leprae target the peripheral nervous system?
abstract: Mycobacterium leprae has the capacity to invade the peripheral nervous system and cause neuropathy. The molecular mechanisms responsible have remained unknown until recently. Identification of the endoneurial laminin-2 isoform and its receptor alpha-dystroglycan as neural targets of M. leprae has not only opened up a new area of scientific inquiry into the pathogenesis of neurological damage in leprosy, but has also revealed unexpected biological properties of these important host molecules.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. rambuka@rockvax.rockefeller.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rambukkana
mesh_terms: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049030:Dystroglycans; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000382:microbiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C483081:DAG1 protein, human; D007797:Laminin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D049030:Dystroglycans