Role for lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase in the control of mycobacteria infection.

ABSTRACT: The pathogenic mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) and TB-like diseases in humans and animals elude sterilizing immunity by residing within an intracellular niche in host macrophages, where they are protected from microbicidal attack. Recent studies have emphasized microbial mechanisms for evasion of host defense; less is known about mycobactericidal mechanisms that remain intact during initial infection. To better understand macrophage mechanisms for restricting mycobacteria growth, we examined Mycobacterium marinum infection of Drosophila S2 cells. Among approximately 1,000 host genes examined by RNAi depletion, the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase was identified as an important factor in the control of mycobacterial infection. The importance of beta-hexosaminidase for restrict

SUBMITTER: Koo IC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2206601 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature