With the advent of biochemical analysis and interpretation of genes and associate regulatory pathways, we have come to a greater appreciation of the contribution that mycobacterial lipids play in the role of immunopathology during disease. These new procedures and analyses are invaluable for understanding the molecular events determining immune reactivity that culminates in human disease. And certainly, understanding these molecular concepts are critical for targeted development of vaccines and therapeutics. Unfortunately, there is still a gap in our complete understanding of molecular pathology of this organism, one in which model systems give hope but not cures for the human malady. We can all appreciate that there remains much to accomplish in control and prevention of tuberculosis. We certainly continue to examine the role that unique mycobacterial lipids play in induction of pathology. However, every once in a while, it is sufficient to appreciate the older literature as a way to focus on the larger picture, and perhaps even gain insights into the morphological phenomena that we try to understand using novel molecular tools
Last date updated on September, 2024