Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have decoded the mechanism that helps the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium to persist in the human body for decades. In the study, published in the journal Science Advances, they described a single gene that aids in the production of iron-sulphur clusters — key for the persistence of the TB bacterium. These iron-sulphur clusters help the bacteria in energy production by respiration, and also help it to survive harsh conditions of the lungs and cause infection. TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which can be present in the human body for decades without any symptoms.
While in many cases, the immune system can detect Mtb and flush it out, sometimes the bug tends to hide within deep oxygen-limiting pockets of the lung and lie in a dormant state, said Mayashree Das, first author and doctoral student at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology (MCB), IISc.
“Due to persistence, there is a bacterial reservoir in a subset of the human population at any point which can reactivate and cause infection. Unless we understand persistence, we will not be able to eradicate TB,” said Amit Singh, Associate Professor at MCB and corresponding author of the study, in a statement.
To understand how Mtb builds iron-sulphur clusters, the team grew Mtb in liquid cultures in the lab. Iron-sulphur clusters are mainly produced by the SUF operon in Mtb — a set of genes that get switched on together. However, they found another single gene called IscS that can also produce the clusters.
To explore whether the bacterium needs both, the team generated a mutant version of Mtb without the IscS gene. They found that during normal and oxygen-limiting conditions, the IscS gene produces iron-sulphur clusters.
Tag: TB
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Indian Scientists Decode How TB Bacterium Persists In Human Body
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India in history this Week-March 18, 2022, to March 24, 2022
18 MARCH
1910 On 18 March 1910, Gopal Krishna Gokhale proposed before the British Legislative Council for the provision of free and compulsory primary education.
1944 On 18 March 1944, Azad Hind Fauj of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose crossed the border of Burma.
1922 The British court sentenced Mahatma Gandhi to six years in the sedition case in 1922 after the Civil Disobedience Movement.
2006 In 2006, the United Nations approved the proposal to set up a ‘Human Rights Council’.
2009 The Union Cabinet recommended imposition of President’s rule in Meghalaya in 2009.
19 MARCH
1944 The Azad Hind Fauj hoisted the national flag in 1944 in Northeast India.
1972 Signed the Friendship Agreement between India and Bangladesh in 1972.
1998 Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister for the second time in 1998.
1848 On this day in 1848, Shatapatra Kaulam was started in a newspaper called Prabhakar.
1935 In 1935, on this day, 20,000 Muslims were fired upon by British Troops.
1954 On this day in 1954, the first helicopter was operated in the country.
20 MARCH
2014 Khushwant Singh, a journalist, writer and historian who was recognized for his impeccable comment, died.
1351 Muhammad Tughlaq Shah Do died in 1351.1921 Doctor Alexander was born in 1921.
1970 The Satyashodhak Samaj was formed in 1970.
1992 The great creator Satyajit Rai received the Bharat Ratna.
1987 The Food and Drug Administration approved the anti-AIDS drug AZT. It was the first drug approved by the US government to treat AIDS.
21 MARCH
1836 First public library started in Kolkata, now its name is National Library.
1858 Rebel soldiers of Lucknow surrender.
1887 Establishment of Prathana Samaj in Bombay.
1916 Shehnaist Ustad Bismillah Khan was born.
1791 British army defeated Tipu Sultan of the then Bangalore.
1975 The then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared Emergency under Section 352 at the request of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
22 MARCH
1882 The deadly infectious disease ‘TB’ was identified.
1890 Ramachandra Chatterjee became the first person to get off parachute in 1890.
1972 Mrs. Indira Gandhi resigned as Prime Minister in 1977.
1964 First rally of old cars held in Kolkata.
1957 A national calendar based on suspicion was adopted.
1993 World Water Day is celebrated.
1969 Inauguration of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited.
23 MARCH
1910 Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was born in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
1931 During the 1931 Indian independence movement, revolutionary Bhagat Singh and his associates Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on this day.
1986 1986 First company of women was trained in Central Reserve Police Force.
1940 The All India Muslim League demanded a separate country for Muslims in 1940.
24 MARCH
1855 Long-distance telegraph message was sent from Calcutta to Agra for the first time.
1977 Morarji Desai became the fourth Prime Minister of India in 1977 and formed the first non-Congress government at the Center.
1990 The Indian Army left Sri Lanka and returned home in 1990.
1999 PN Bhagwati (India) was elected vice-president of the United Nations Human Rights Committee for a second consecutive term in 1999.
1855 British Cabinet Mission reaches India.