Lipid Droplets andMycobacterium lepraeInfection

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and is a major source of morbidity in developing countries. Leprosy is caused by the obligate intracellular bacteriumMycobacterium leprae, which infects as primary target Schwann cells. Lepromatous leprosy exhibits multiple lesions of the skin, eyes, nerves, and lymph nodes. The sites of infection are characterized by the presence of foamy macrophages, fully packed with lipid droplets (LDs), which are induced byM. leprae. In the last years, it has become evident thatM. tuberculosisimports lipids from foamy macrophages and is dependent on fatty acids for growth in infected macrophages.M. lepraeseems to have similar mechanisms for scavenging lipids from the host. But due to the inability to cultureM. lepraeon laboratory media, research progresses only slowly. However, in the last years, substantial progress has been made in the field of lipid metabolism inM. leprae. Herein, we will present and summarize the lipid droplets formation and the metabolism of lipids duringM. lepraeinfection.