Expert
Reviews in Molecular Medicine: http://www.expertreviews.org/
DOI: 10.1017/S1462399403005908; 28 February 2003
Citation details: Melanie Newport (2003) The genetics of nontuberculous mycobacterial
infection. Exp. Rev. Mol. Med. Vol. 5, DOI: 10.1017/S1462399403005908
The
genetics of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection
Melanie
Newport
Author
contact details
The
molecular aetiology of familial susceptibility to disseminated mycobacterial
disease, usually involving weakly pathogenic strains of mycobacteria, has now
been elucidated in more than 30 families. Mutations have been identified in
five genes in the interleukin-12-dependent interferon-g
pathway, highlighting the importance of this pathway in human mycobacterial
immunity. Knowledge derived from the study of these rare patients contributes
to our understanding of the immune response to common mycobacterial pathogens
such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, which
remain major public health problems globally. This knowledge can be applied
to the rational development of novel therapies and vaccines for these important
mycobacterial diseases.
Full
text online (purchase or subscribe through
Cambridge Journals Online)
Free features associated with this article
Figure 1. Overview of the roles of
interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interferon g (IFN-g)
in mycobacterial immunity
Web, PDF
Figure 2.
A schematic representation of the interferon-g receptor
(IFN-gR) and its signalling pathway
Web, PDF
Figure 3. A schematic representation of the interleukin-12 receptor (IL-12R)
and its signalling pathway
Web, PDF
Table 1. Genes in which mutations lead to increased susceptibility to nontuberculous
mycobacterial infection
Web, PDF
| home
| search | glossary
| links | sitemap
| contact |
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine © Cambridge
University Press ISSN 1462-3994 (Disclaimer and copyright)
Editorial Office: Centre for Applied Research
in Educational Technologies (CARET), 1st Floor, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge,
CB2 1SB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 765 375; Fax: +44(0)1223 765 505; E-mail: ermm@caret.cam.ac.uk
