title: Mycobacterial proteomics: analysis of expressed proteomes and post-translational modifications to identify candidate virulence factors.
abstract: The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus has a number of unique features that make it a particularly effective human pathogen. Although genomic analysis has added to our current understanding of the molecular basis by which M. tuberculosis damages its host, proteomics may be better suited to describe the dynamic interactions between mycobacterial and host systems that underpin this disease. The M. tuberculosis proteome has been investigated using proteomics for over a decade, with increasingly sophisticated mass spectrometry technology and sensitive methods for comparative proteomic profiling. Deeper coverage of the M. tuberculosis proteome has led to the identification of hundreds of putative virulence determinants, as well as an unsurpassed coverage of post-translational modifications. Proteomics is therefore uniquely poised to contribute to our understanding of this pathogen, which may ultimately lead to better management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.forename: Nelson C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Kock
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blackburn
mesh_terms: D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome
keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; bacterial proteomics; mass spectrometry; pathogenicity; proteomics; virulence