<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Small RNA MTS1338 Confers Pathogenic Properties to Non-Pathogenic <i>Mycobacterium smegmatis</i>

Abstract

Small non-coding RNAs play a key role in bacterial adaptation to various stresses. Mycobacterium tuberculosis small RNA MTS1338 is upregulated during mycobacteria infection of macrophages, suggesting its involvement in the interaction of the pathogen with the host. In this study, we explored the functional effects of MTS1338 by expressing it in non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis that lacks the MTS1338 gene. The results indicated that MTS1338 slowed the growth of the recombinant mycobacteria in culture and increased their survival in RAW 264.7 macrophages, where the MTS1338-expressing strain significantly (p furA, whiB4, phoP). These effects of MTS1338 expression are characteristic for M. tuberculosis during infection, suggesting that in pathogenic mycobacteria MTS1338 plays the role of a virulence factor supporting the residence of M. tuberculosis in the host.

Keywords

• <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>
• <i>Mycobacterium smegmatis</i>
• small non-coding RNA
• MTS1338
• proteomics
• macrophages