Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene expression dynamics in host environments with single-cell resolution

Visualizing when and where Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) genes are expressed in the host cell is crucial to understand tuberculosis heterogeneity. However, imaging approaches for studying spatiotemporal gene expression in Mtb remain limited. Here, we developed a dual-fluorophore Mtb reporter system that enables high-content, live-cell imaging of Mtb gene expression with high spatial and temporal resolution. By monitoring components of the Mtb ESX-1 secretion system, we observed substantial heterogeneity in Mtb promoter activity both within and between the infected human macrophages. We further found that phthiocerol dimycocerosates (PDIM) deficiency and the loss of ATG14 in macrophages altered promoter activity of ESX-1 components. Consistent with the dynamic nature of this heterogeneity, espA promoter activity changed over time following phagocytosis, highlighting a temporal regulation. Extending these observations in vivo, we confirmed heterogeneous ESX-1 promoter activity in a C3HeB/FeJ mouse model. Together, our findings reveal underappreciated heterogeneity in Mtb gene expression dynamics in vitro and in vivo.