title: Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolism.
abstract: Metabolism underpins the physiology and pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, although experimental mycobacteriology has provided key insights into the metabolic pathways that are essential for survival and pathogenesis, determining the metabolic status of bacilli during different stages of infection and in different cellular compartments remains challenging. Recent advances-in particular, the development of systems biology tools such as metabolomics-have enabled key insights into the biochemical state of M. tuberculosis in experimental models of infection. In addition, their use to elucidate mechanisms of action of new and existing antituberculosis drugs is critical for the development of improved interventions to counter tuberculosis. This review provides a broad summary of mycobacterial metabolism, highlighting the adaptation of M. tuberculosis as specialist human pathogen, and discusses recent insights into the strategies used by the host and infecting bacillus to influence the outcomes of the host-pathogen interaction through modulation of metabolic functions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council/National Health Laboratory Services/University of Cape Town Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit and Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa.
authors.forename: Digby F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Warner
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents