Mycobacteria
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Mycobacteria
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Mycobacteria are a vast group of microorganisms characterized by a unique thick, hydrophobic cell wall rich in mycolic acids, which makes them highly resistant to environmental stresses. Even if most of them are innocuous environmental saprophytes, some of them, such as Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium tuberculosis, have evolved to become formidable human pathogens with a very complex and still not well-characterized relationship with their host, while others, such as Mycobacterium avium, represent important emerging or opportunistic pathogens.
Guest-edited by Dr. Riccardo Manganelli, this collection of keynote research articles will highlight all aspects of mycobacterial biology, with particular focus on physiological aspects, such as stress response mechanisms, regulatory networks, and metabolic pathways, that might lead to a better understanding of the intriguing aspects of mycobacterial host-pathogen interaction and lead to the design of new strategies to fight these important pathogens.