Abstract
Mycobacterium leprae has the capacity to invade the peripheral nervous system and cause neuropathy. The molecular mechanisms responsible have remained unknown until recently. Identification of the endoneurial laminin-2 isoform and its receptor alpha-dystroglycan as neural targets of M. leprae has not only opened up a new area of scientific inquiry into the pathogenesis of neurological damage in leprosy, but has also revealed unexpected biological properties of these important host molecules.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23-8 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Trends in Microbiology |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2000 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism
- Dystroglycans
- Humans
- Laminin/chemistry
- Leprosy/microbiology
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
- Mycobacterium leprae/pathogenicity
- Myelin Sheath/metabolism
- Peripheral Nerves/chemistry
- Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/microbiology
- Protein Isoforms/chemistry
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Schwann Cells/microbiology