Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Visual Assay to Monitor T6SS-mediated Bacterial Competition
08:45

A Visual Assay to Monitor T6SS-mediated Bacterial Competition

Published on: March 20, 2013

Drosophila RNAi screen reveals CD36 family member required for mycobacterial infection

Jennifer A Philips1, Eric J Rubin, Norbert Perrimon

  • 1Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Louis Pasteur Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jphilips@partners.org

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified host factors crucial for mycobacterial entry and survival. A specific CD36 family member, Peste (Pes), mediates mycobacterial uptake, highlighting conserved roles for scavenger receptors in innate immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis survives within macrophages, posing a significant challenge to host defense.
  • Understanding host factors involved in pathogen entry and survival is critical for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify host factors essential for mycobacterial entry and intracellular survival.
  • To investigate the specific role of identified factors in the interaction between macrophages and mycobacteria.

Main Methods:

  • A genomewide RNA interference screen was conducted in Drosophila macrophage-like cells.
  • Mycobacterium fortuitum was used to screen for host factors involved in phagocytosis and infection.

Main Results:

  • The screen identified factors required for general phagocytosis and those specifically important for mycobacterial infection.
  • A CD36 family member, Peste (Pes), was found to be essential for mycobacterial uptake but not for other bacteria like E. coli or S. aureus.
  • Mammalian class B scavenger receptors (SRs) facilitated bacterial uptake into nonphagocytic cells, with SR-BI and SR-BII uniquely mediating M. fortuitum uptake.

Conclusions:

  • The study reveals novel host factors, including Peste (Pes), that regulate mycobacterial interaction with host cells.
  • Conserved roles for class B scavenger receptors in pattern recognition and innate immunity against mycobacteria are suggested.
  • These findings provide insights into host-pathogen interactions and potential targets for anti-mycobacterial therapies.

More Related Videos

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes08:23

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes

Published on: March 2, 2020

Rapid Detection of Fecal Antigen of Helicobacter pylori Infection Based on Double Antibody Sandwich Detection Technology03:33

Rapid Detection of Fecal Antigen of Helicobacter pylori Infection Based on Double Antibody Sandwich Detection Technology

Published on: May 23, 2025

Related Concept Videos

iChip01:24

iChip

The cultivation of environmental microorganisms has long been hindered by the inability to replicate complex native conditions in vitro. The isolation chip (iChip) addresses this limitation by facilitating the growth of previously uncultivable microorganisms through in situ incubation. Designed for high-throughput microbial cultivation, the iChip comprises hundreds of microchambers, each capable of housing a single microbial cell. These microchambers are loaded with a mixture of molten agar and...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Rapid Identification of Pathogens01:25

Rapid Identification of Pathogens

MALDI-TOF MS has transformed clinical microbiology by offering a rapid and reliable method for pathogen identification. The traditional approach to microbial identification typically involves time-consuming culture techniques and biochemical tests, which can delay the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. MALDI-TOF MS avoids these delays by using characteristic ribosomal protein mass patterns of microbial cells, enabling accurate species-level identification within minutes.Principle...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...