Molecular analysis of a leprosy immunotherapeutic bacillus provides insights into Mycobacterium evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evolutionary dynamics plays a central role in facilitating the mechanisms of species divergence among pathogenic and saprophytic mycobacteria. The ability of mycobacteria to colonize hosts, to proliferate and to cause diseases has evolved due to its predisposition to various evolutionary forces acting over a period of time. Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP), a taxonomically unknown 'generalist' mycobacterium, acts as an immunotherapeutic against leprosy and is approved for use as a vaccine against it. The large-scale field trials of this MIP based leprosy vaccine coupled with its demonstrated immunomodulatory and adjuvant property has led to human clinical evaluations of MIP in interventions against HIV-AIDS, psoriasis and bladder cancer. MIP, commercially available as

SUBMITTER: Ahmed N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1989137 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature