The <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> PE_PGRS Protein Family Acts as an Immunological Decoy to Subvert Host Immune Response
<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (<i>M.tb</i>) is a successful pathogen that can reside within the alveolar macrophages of the host and can survive in a latent stage. The pathogen has evolved and developed multiple strategies to resist the host immune responses. <i>M.t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/1/525 |
| Summary: | <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (<i>M.tb</i>) is a successful pathogen that can reside within the alveolar macrophages of the host and can survive in a latent stage. The pathogen has evolved and developed multiple strategies to resist the host immune responses. <i>M.tb</i> escapes from host macrophage through evasion or subversion of immune effector functions. <i>M.tb</i> genome codes for PE/PPE/PE_PGRS proteins, which are intrinsically disordered, redundant and antigenic in nature. These proteins perform multiple functions that intensify the virulence competence of <i>M.tb</i> majorly by modulating immune responses, thereby affecting immune mediated clearance of the pathogen. The highly repetitive, redundant and antigenic nature of PE/PPE/PE_PGRS proteins provide a critical edge over other <i>M.tb</i> proteins in terms of imparting a higher level of virulence and also as a decoy molecule that masks the effect of effector molecules, thereby modulating immuno-surveillance. An understanding of how these proteins subvert the host immunological machinery may add to the current knowledge about <i>M.tb</i> virulence and pathogenesis. This can help in redirecting our strategies for tackling <i>M.tb</i> infections. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |