PubMed · 2026-04-15
Scientists developed a high-throughput genetic screening tool to rapidly test the function of thousands of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB bacterium) genes across 95 different conditions, uncovering how the bacterium survives stress, metabolizes unusual nutrients, and resists a new antibiotic.
A pooled barcode transposon library enabled 95 high-throughput genetic screens across carbon sources, nitrogen sources, stressors, and antibiotics — far exceeding traditional throughput.
187 previously unknown gene functions were uncovered across 37 members of the enigmatic pe/ppe gene family, including a proposed lactate import pathway involving the ESX-5 secretion system.
A novel gene mutation conferring resistance to pretomanid, a newly approved tuberculosis antibiotic, was identified — raising concern for emerging drug resistance.