**8. Acknowledgment**

This work was supported by grant ID № 02/27 of the National Scientific Fund in Bulgaria.

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**12** 

*Mycobacterium tuberculosis***:** 

Ranjeet Kumar and Suparna Sanyal

*Uppsala University* 

 *Sweden* 

**in the Light of Protein Synthesis** 

**Dormancy, Persistence and Survival** 

The chapter introduces and discusses the metabolic robustness and survival strategies of mycobacteria with focus on glyoxylate shunt and protein synthesis. Primarily, it is an attempt to understand the significance of glyoxylate pathway, which provides an adaptive advantage in metabolically starved situation. The other issue addressed here are the key players behind resistance mechanism in all thriving forms of the bacteria. The protein synthesis process, its challenges and advantages that can effectively be harnessed have been discussed in details. It also gives a comprehensive account of the strength, weaknesses opportunities and threats in targeting mycobacterium both in active and dormant state. Last but not the least we also highlight further perspectives to control the pathogenesis by the

**Dormancy**: the reversible state of bacterial metabolic shutdown (Kell et al., 1998;

**Persistence**: the phenomenon whereby otherwise drug susceptible microorganisms have the capacity to survive indefinitely within mammalian tissues despite continued

**Latency**: *in vivo* situation where bacteria and the host have established a balanced state without causing apparent symptoms in the host, as in latent infection (Orme, 2001a)

The enigma caused by the mycobacterium has been a challenge to the scientific community by virtue of their adaptive skills and evasion mechanism to combat immunologically educated host. It is a gram positive, acid fast pathogenic bacterium with unique cell wall. It

Mukamolova et al., 1998; Barer & Harwood, 1999).

exposure to the appropriate drug or drugs (Mc et al., 1957).

**1.1 A prelude to mycobacterium: The culprit in stealth** 

**1. Introduction** 

bacteria.

**Definitions:** 

endospores? *Proc Natl Acad Sci USA*, Vol. 107, No 2, (January 2010), pp. 878–881, ISSN 1091-6490

