Abstract
Although the pathophysiological role of PE/PPE proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is yet to be fully understood, recent evidence shows that these proteins play important roles in antigenic diversity, as well as in host-pathogen interactions and mycobacterial pathogenesis. Most of the PE/PPE proteins are highly expressed in pathogenic bacteria, pointing to their role in the pathogenesis of mycobacteria. Here, we provide an overview of our work in progress on a specific PPE protein, PPE2 (Rv0256c), which may inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in activated macrophages. As NO and its by-products are considered to be toxic to bacilli, it is possible that the bacilli recruit Rv0256c in order to inhibit higher production of NO during infection.
© 2013 New York Academy of Sciences.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
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Antigens, Bacterial / physiology
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
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Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
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Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
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Macrophage Activation* / genetics
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Macrophage Activation* / immunology
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Macrophages / immunology
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Macrophages / metabolism*
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Macrophages / microbiology*
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Mice
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity*
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Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
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Tuberculosis / etiology
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Tuberculosis / microbiology
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Tuberculosis / pathology
Substances
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Bacterial Proteins
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PPE2 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
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Nitric Oxide