Functional aspects and physisopathological impact of intracytoplasmic lipid inclusions in mycobacteria – ILIome

M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), stores triglycerides (TAG) in the form of Intracytoplasmic Lipid Inclusions (ILI) either within foamy macrophages or inside the granuloma caseum center. These lipid-overloaded bacilli can persist silently within the host and establish a latent infection. During TB reactivation, degradation of TAG contained in ILI occurs, promoting bacterial growth and spread of the infection. This accumulation and degradation phenomenon of intracellular lipids is also observed in most mycobacteria. Thus, the ILIome project aims to study functional aspects and physisopathological impact of intracytoplasmic lipid inclusions in mycobacteria to 1) determine the contribution of host enzymes involved in ILI formation and degradation; 2) identify and characterize the mycobacterial proteins physically associated with ILI and participating either in ILI formation or consumption; 3) investigate the role of identified proteins in the mycobacterial pathogenicity through the use of deletion mutants in cellular and animal infection models. By using original techniques, this innovative project will provide key insights into the life cycle of pathogenic mycobacteria, inspiring probably innovative therapeutic strategies in the fight against TB.