title: Chapter 2: Biogenesis of the cell wall and other glycoconjugates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: The re-emergence of tuberculosis in its present-day manifestations - single, multiple and extensive drug-resistant forms and as HIV-TB coinfections - has resulted in renewed research on fundamental questions such as the nature of the organism itself, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the molecular basis of its pathogenesis, definition of the immunological response in animal models and humans, and development of new intervention strategies such as vaccines and drugs. Foremost among these developments has been the precise chemical definition of the complex and distinctive cell wall of M. tuberculosis, elucidation of the relevant pathways and underlying genetics responsible for the synthesis of the hallmark moieties of the tubercle bacillus such as the mycolic acid-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan complex, the phthiocerol- and trehalose-containing effector lipids, the phosphatidylinositol-containing mannosides, lipomannosides and lipoarabinomannosides, major immunomodulators, and others. In this review, the laboratory personnel who have been the focal point of some to these developments review recent progress towards a comprehensive understanding of the basic physiology and functions of the cell wall of M. tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1682, USA.
authors.forename: Devinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Marcelo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Guerin
authors.forename: Henrieta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skovierová
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015195:Drug Design; D005685:Galactans / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005685:Galactans; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D009171:Mycolic Acids; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C005653:arabinogalactan