Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41241674›Full record

ArticleMetabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society2025

Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili (MTP) facilitates pathogenicity by modulating oxidative phosphorylation and carbon flux during early infection of A549 epithelial cells.

Tarien J Naidoo, Shinese Ashokcoomar, Barry Truebody, Jared S Mackenzie, Bridgette M Cumming, Adrie J C Steyn, Manormoney Pillay

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Isotopic tracing inVirulence · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tarien J NaidooMedical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1st floor Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Congella, Private Bag 7, Durban, 4013, South Africa.
Shinese AshokcoomarMedical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1st floor Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Congella, Private Bag 7, Durban, 4013, South Africa.
Barry TruebodyAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Jared S MackenzieAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Bridgette M CummingAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Adrie J C SteynAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Manormoney PillayMedical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1st floor Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Congella, Private Bag 7, Durban, 4013, South Africa. pillayc@ukzn.ac.za.

Funding

College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal CHS PhD ScholarshipNational Research Foundation PMDS22070734755NIH HHS R01AI137043 and R01AI152110UKZN Research Flagship Afrocentric Precision Approach to Control Health Epidemics (APACHE)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) curli pili (MTP) adhesin has been reported as a significant target for TB diagnostic and intervention strategies. The precise contribution of MTP in modulating oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and central carbon metabolism (CCM) within host epithelial cells is currently unknown.

objectivesThis study aimed to investigate the impact of MTP in whole cell bioenergetics during early stages of infection.

methodsExtracellular flux analysis was used to determine the role of MTP in modulating OXPHOS in A549 epithelial cells.

resultsThe absence of MTP led to an increase in OXPHOS in infected A549 cells, thereby increasing ATP synthesis. The Δmtp-infected A549 cells displayed a similar metabolic profile to the uninfected A549 cells.

conclusionsThe decreased basal respiration and flux through glycolysis and PPP of Mtb-infected A549 cells potentially decreased innate immune responses and production of signalling molecules to interact with immunocytes and activate adaptive immune responses. The similar metabolic profile of Δmtp-infected A549 cells and uninfected A549 cells suggests that the absence of the adhesin decreases virulence of Mtb. These findings substantiate MTP as an eminent biomarker for TB diagnostics/intervention strategies, and a novel target for vaccine development.

Indexed as

CarbonEpithelial CellsFimbriae, BacterialMycobacterium tuberculosisOxidative PhosphorylationA549 CellsHumansCarbonA549 pulmonary epithelial cellsBioenergeticsLC-MS/MSMycobacterium tuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID41241674

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.