Mycobacterium smegmatis: The Vanguard of Mycobacterial Research.
J Bacteriol
; 205(1): e0033722, 2023 01 26.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36598232
ABSTRACT
The genus Mycobacterium contains several slow-growing human pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and Mycobacterium avium. Mycobacterium smegmatis is a nonpathogenic and fast growing species within this genus. In 1990, a mutant of M. smegmatis, designated mc2155, that could be transformed with episomal plasmids was isolated, elevating M. smegmatis to model status as the ideal surrogate for mycobacterial research. Classical bacterial models, such as Escherichia coli, were inadequate for mycobacteria research because they have low genetic conservation, different physiology, and lack the novel envelope structure that distinguishes the Mycobacterium genus. By contrast, M. smegmatis encodes thousands of conserved mycobacterial gene orthologs and has the same cell architecture and physiology. Dissection and characterization of conserved genes, structures, and processes in genetically tractable M. smegmatis mc2155 have since provided previously unattainable insights on these same features in its slow-growing relatives. Notably, tuberculosis (TB) drugs, including the first-line drugs isoniazid and ethambutol, are active against M. smegmatis, but not against E. coli, allowing the identification of their physiological targets. Furthermore, Bedaquiline, the first new TB drug in 40 years, was discovered through an M. smegmatis screen. M. smegmatis has become a model bacterium, not only for M. tuberculosis, but for all other Mycobacterium species and related genera. With a repertoire of bioinformatic and physical resources, including the recently established Mycobacterial Systems Resource, M. smegmatis will continue to accelerate mycobacterial research and advance the field of microbiology.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Tuberculosis
/
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Bacteriol
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos