Harnessing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell surface’s physiology to generate better anti-infective tools

One of the historic ironies of tuberculosis (TB) research is the assumption that the current interventions would eliminate this disease.  BCG was discovered in 1908 and it has not successfully eliminated the disease due to its limited efficacy. Yet even with better antibiotics, TB is the first cause of death by a bacterial infection. New vaccines are central to future TB elimination program. However, the incomplete understanding of the physiology of its causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), precludes the efficacy of the current vaccine approaches.
Mtb and host cells initiate their encounter at the outermost part of the cell surface. Our group is interested in understanding how Mtb shapes its cell surface during the infection process. We are focused in two different physiological processes: alternative secretion systems based on extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the Mtbl outermost capsule...