title: Bacterial pili, with emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili: potential biomarkers for point-of care tests and therapeutics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel biomarkers are essential for developing rapid diagnostics and therapeutic interventions Objective: This review aimed to highlight biomarker characterisation and assessment of unique bacterial pili.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed search for bacterial pili, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics was performed, with emphasis on the well characterised pili.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 46 papers were identified and reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extensive analyses of pili enabled by advanced nanotechnology and whole genome sequencing provide evidence that they are strong biomarker candidates. Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili are emphasised as important epitopes for the development of much needed point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics.
authors: a Medical Microbiology and Infection Control , School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Congella , Durban , South Africa.
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Naidoo
authors: a Medical Microbiology and Infection Control , School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Congella , Durban , South Africa.
authors: Manormoney
authors: M
authors: Pillay
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015415:Biomarkers; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Pili; biomarkers; diagnostics; therapeutics