Identification of quantitative proteomic differences between mycobacterial lineages with altered virulence

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causitive agent of TB, which is a global epidemic that has claimed millions of lives. Some clinical strains of M.tb have significantly more severe clinical outcomes, while some other mycobacteria ordinarily do not cause disease in humans. The biological processes underpinning this difference are poorly understood. Thus, this project aimed to identify proteomic differences between more virulent strains of the MTBC (Beijing, J37Rv, CAS and LAM) vs those strains that only cause disease in severely immune compromised humans (Bovis, Smegmatis and Avium). We hypothesise that these differences may offer insight into the molecular mechanisms by which M.tb has become more virulent by evading drug treatment or evading the host immune system more effectively.