Systemic dissemination in tuberculosis and leprosy: do mycobacterial adhesins play a role?
More than one century after the discovery of their etiological agents, tuberculosis and leprosy remain as major health threats for humans, and the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of both diseases are poorly understood. The elucidation of these mechanisms, and especially those allowing for the mycobacteria to systemically disseminate, should facilitate the development of new prophylactic and/or therapeutic strategies. This review is focused on the routes that Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae may use to disseminate within the human body, and the potential roles played by recently characterized adhesins in this process.
Vidal Pessolani
Maria Cristina
MC
Laboratório de Hanseníase, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21045-000, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Marques
Maria Angela de Melo
MA
Reddy
Venkata M
VM
Locht
Camille
C
Menozzi
Franco D
FD
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial