In silico characterization of hypothetical proteins of Mycobacterium bovis towards identification of novel drug and vaccine targets (original) (raw)

Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases with a death rate of 1.5 million per year. Tuberculosis spreads from one person to another through Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria belongs to the family Mycobacteriaceae, genus Mycobacterium, member of the tuberculosis complex. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid-fast, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, ranging from 2 to 4 Â lm in length and 0.2 to 0.5 Â lm in width. Tuberculosis spreads through infected people via sneezing, coughing, etc., with humans acting as the host for the bacteria. The genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv encodes 3906 proteins, of which 1055 are hypothetical proteins (HPs), wherein the functions of the proteins are unknown. The sequences of 1055 HPs of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were analyzed and the functions of 578 HPs were subsequently predicted with a high level of confidence. Several enzymes, transporters and binding proteins of 1055 HPs in M. tuberculosis were analyzed and potential targets were discovered which contribute to the overall survival of the bacteria. The analysis will be of relevance in understanding the mechanism of the bacteria and will prove to be beneficial in the discovery of new drugs.

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