Recent advances in deciphering the contribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipids to pathogenesis

The cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other members of the Mycobacterium genus typically contains a broad diversity of unique lipid components. These lipids have been intensively studied for more than 70 years, in terms of their structure, biosynthesis and role in interactions with the host. Several recent excellent reviews provide state-of-the-art knowledge about the structure, biosynthesis and biological activity of mycobacterial lipids.(1-3) We focus here on the most recent findings concerning the supramolecular organisation of the mycobacterial cell envelope, the contribution of lipids to mycobacterial pathogenicity, their mechanisms of action, and their variation in diverse mycobacterial strains. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.