Indian scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the persistence of the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium in the human body. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have identified a crucial mechanism involving a single gene called IscS, which aids in the production of iron-sulphur clusters necessary for the bacterium’s survival.
Published in the journal Science Advances, the study sheds light on how TB can remain dormant in the human body for several decades without causing any symptoms. Although the immune system can detect and eliminate the bacterium in most cases, sometimes it manages to hide within oxygen-depleted pockets of the lungs, allowing it to lie dormant.
Mayashree Das, a doctoral student at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, IISc, explained, 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.
The production of iron-sulphur clusters is vital for the TB bacterium’s energy production and overall survival. These clusters enable the bacteria to generate energy through respiration and navigate the harsh conditions of the lungs, leading to infection.
To understand the process of iron-sulphur cluster production, the research team cultivated the TB bacterium in liquid cultures within a laboratory setting. They observed that while these clusters are primarily produced by the SUF operon, a group of genes activated together, there is another single gene called IscS that can also produce the clusters, thereby contributing to the bacterium’s persistence.
Amit Singh, Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, IISc, and corresponding author of the study, emphasized the significance of comprehending the persistence of TB. He stated, Unless we understand persistence, we will not be able to eradicate TB.
This breakthrough in deciphering the mechanism behind the persistence of the TB bacterium brings hope for improved treatments and strategies to combat this widespread disease. By targeting the IscS gene or the iron-sulphur cluster production process, researchers can explore potential avenues for disrupting the bacterium’s ability to persist in the human body.
Tuberculosis affects millions of people globally, causing severe illness and claiming numerous lives each year. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1.4 million people died from TB in 2019 alone.
With further research and understanding, scientists believe that this new knowledge about the TB bacterium’s persistence mechanism could pave the way for innovative treatment options and accelerate efforts towards eradicating this devastating disease.
The breakthrough study conducted by Indian scientists at the IISc not only expands our understanding of TB but also brings us one step closer to a world without the persistent threat of this infectious disease.
