Journal Article

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium africanum: Knowns and unknowns

Osório, Nuno S., Cá, Baltazar, Maceiras, Ana Raquel, Silva, Marta L., Saraiva, Margarida, Rodrigues, Pedro N. S.

2022

Overview

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the deadliest threats to human health, is mainly caused by 2 highly related and human-adapted bacteria broadly known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium africanum . Whereas M . tuberculosis is widely spread, M . africanum is restricted to West Africa, where it remains a significant cause of tuberculosis. Although several differences have been identified between these 2 pathogens, M . africanum remains a lot less studied than M . tuberculosis . Here, we discuss the genetic, phenotypic, and clinical similarities and differences between strains of M . tuberculosis and M . africanum . We also discuss our current knowledge on the immune response to M . africanum and how it possibly articulates with distinct disease progression and with the geographical restriction attributed to this pathogen. Understanding the functional impact of the diversity existing in TB-causing bacteria, as well as incorporating this diversity in TB research, will contribute to the development of better, more specific approaches to tackle TB.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Bacteria / Biology and Life Sciences / Care and treatment / Causes of / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / Drug resistance / Earth Sciences / Ecology and Environmental Sciences / Genetic aspects / Genomes / Genotype / Health aspects / Host-bacteria relationships / Identification and classification / Immune response / Infectious diseases / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mycobacteria / Mycobacterium / Mycobacterium africanum / Pathogens / People and Places / Phylogenetics / Review / Tuberculosis