title: Molecular genetics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in relation to the discovery of novel drugs and vaccines.
abstract: Genetic systems that allow mycobacterial genomes to be mutagenized in a targeted or random fashion have provided the means for developing new tools for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of tuberculosis by allowing potential targets to be identified and validated. In this review, we highlight key historical developments in the field of mycobacterial genetics, which have yielded the powerful repertoire of genetic tools that are now in hand and provide examples that illustrate their use in exploring specific aspects of mycobacterial metabolism.
authors.affiliation: MRC/NHLS/WITS Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, NHLS P.O. Box 1038, Room 311 James Gear Building, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bavesh D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kana
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mizrahi
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional / Q000379:methods; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines