Interactions between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and host cells: are mycobacterial sugars the key?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has evolved successful strategies to invade and persist within macrophages. Intimate pathogen-macrophage contacts dictate receptor choice and probably specify the intracellular fate of these microorganisms. Binding to specific receptors, such as complement receptor type 3, could provide an advantage. These interactions appear to involve surface polysaccharides and glycolipids.