Biosynthesis and transport of cell wall glycolipids in mycobacteria

Abstract

The genus Mycobacterium contains a number of medically important bacterial pathogens. The most important of these, M. tuberculosis , infects one third of the world's population and causes more than 2 million deaths each year. The unusual cell wall of mycobacteria contribute to the pathogenesis, host immune responses and inherent resistance of these bacilli to common antibiotics and antiseptics. The mycobacterial wall comprises macromolecular components (peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan and covalently linked mycolic acids) as well as free glycolipids, such as trehalose mycolates, phosphatidylinositol mannosides (PIM..