IISER MOHALI

Abstract: Why and how Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a successful pathogen is a question addressed by hundreds of researchers worldwide. The uncanny organism has enumerated several mechanisms for its facile intracellular survival. Mtb manipulates host signaling pathways to interfere with the host immune response and cell death pathways. By employing several virulence factors, many of them are secretory, it ensures successful infection. I will describe the largely unexplored epigenetic perturbation of the host genome by Mtb to remodel chromatin impacting host pathways for the pathogen’s advantage. Mtb-encoded modification enzymes and their role in maneuvering the host machinery are presented. The function of two such bacterial effectors- methyl transferases will be elaborated. One of them enters the host, intercepts and reprograms host epigenetics and downstream signaling by multipronged approach ensuring the survival of the pathogen in the hostile intracellular environment. The other one counters host defense by yet another novel mode.