Comprehensive Characterization of the Attenuated Double Auxotroph <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>Δ<i>leuD</i>Δ<i>panCD</i> as an Alternative to H37Rv.

ABSTRACT: Although currently available model organisms such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) have significantly contributed to our understanding of tuberculosis (TB) biology, these models have limitations such as differences in genome size, growth rates and virulence. However, attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains may provide more representative, safer models to study M. tuberculosis biology. For example, the M. tuberculosis ΔleuDΔpanCD double auxotroph, has undergone rigorous in vitro and in vivo safety testing. Like other auxotrophic strains, this has subsequently been approved for use in biosafety level (BSL) 2 facilities. Auxotrophic strains have been assessed as models for dru

SUBMITTER: Mouton JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6710366 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature