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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb BCG lux/M.Tb lux
Published on: September 14, 2011
Cholesterol is not an essential source of nutrition for Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection
Xinxin Yang1, Jin Gao, Issar Smith
1Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3400, USA.
Abstract:
Rv1106c (hsd; 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) is required by Mycobacterium tuberculosis for growth on cholesterol as a sole carbon source, whereas Rv3409c is not. Mutation of Rv1106c does not reduce Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in infected macrophages or guinea pigs. We conclude that cholesterol is not required as a nutritional source during infection.
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