Virulence hierarchies within the <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex.

ABSTRACT: The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) includes M. tuberculosis (M. tb), the primary cause of human tuberculosis, M. bovis, the classical zoonotic pathogen and cause of bovine tuberculosis, and M. orygis, a recently recognized multihost pathogen. Given that M. tb, M. bovis, and M. orygis pose significant threats to the health of humans and animals, we sought to understand fundamental differences in pathogenicity among these closely related organisms. Building upon historical observations, we conducted a comparative virulence assessment of these pathogens using both bovine and murine infection models. Holstein calves were infected via aerosol with M. tb, M. bovis, or M. orygis, and pathology was analyzed through macroscop

SUBMITTER: Danchuk SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12557539 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature