Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Copper: A Newly Appreciated Defense against an Old Foe?

Abstract

Several independent studies have recently converged upon the conclusion that the human bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis encounters copper during infections. At least three independently regulated pathways respond to excess copper and are required for the full virulence of M. tuberculosis in animals. In this review, I will discuss the functions of the best-characterized copper-responsive proteins in M. tuberculosis, the potential sources of copper during an infection, and remaining questions about the interface between copper and tuberculosis.

• Authors: K Heran Darwin
• Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 290 Issue 31 Pg. 18962-6 (Jul 31 2015) ISSN: 1083-351X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26055711 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Chemical References

• Copper

Topics

• Animals
• Biological Transport
• Copper (physiology)
• Genes, Bacterial
• Humans
• Immunity, Innate
• Macrophages (immunology, metabolism, microbiology)
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis (genetics, immunology, pathogenicity)
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (immunology, microbiology)