[Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its host].
Human beings are the only hosts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Owing to a peculiar architecture and composition of the cell wall, M. tuberculosis presents characteristic properties (acid fastness, high hydrophobicity). Molecules, proteins and polysaccharides, present on the cell surface play a key role in the rapid bacterial phagocytosis by macrophages. M. tuberculosis is able to inhibit the intracellular bactericidal mechanisms. Potent thymodependent immune responses control bactericial growth through inflammatory reactions.
Vincent
Véronique
V
Laboratoire des mycobactéries Institut Pasteur 75724 Paris. vvincent@pasteur.fr
Marchal
Gilles
G
D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000502:physiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology