Potassium-Uptake Systems of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Genomic and Protein Organization and Potential Roles in Microbial Pathogenesis and Chemotherapy

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a formidable microbial pathogen which uses multiple mechanisms to subvert host immune defences. These include the effective; protective barrier presented by the outer waxy coat; intracellular concealment from host defences; and the ability to enter a prolonged; dormant phase in the infected host. Priority strategies to combat the scourge of TB include the identification of novel and selective targets on/in MTB which are amenable to pharmacological or immune-mediated control. Because they are structurally different from their counterparts in eukaryotic cells and are likely to be essential for survival and growth; the major K+ transporters of MTB represent alternative and novel targets for drug and vaccine design. These K+-uptake systems of MTB are the primary focus of this review; with particular emphasis on their genomic and protein structures; properties and functions; and potential roles in intracellular survival