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ESI Special Topics, June 2004
Citing URL: http://www.esi-topics.com/erf/2004/june04-RolandBrosch.html

From •>>June 2004

Roland Brosch answers a few questions about this month's emerging research front in field of Microbiology:

Microbiology
Article: A new evolutionary scenario for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
 Authors: Brosch, R;Gordon, SV;Marmiesse, M;Brodin, P;Buchrieser, C;Eiglmeier, K;Garnier, T;Gutierrez, C;Hewinson, G;Kremer, K;Parsons, LM;Pym, AS;Samper, S;van Soolingen, D;Cole, ST
Journal: PROC NAT ACAD SCI USA, 99: (6) 3684-3689, MAR 19 2002
Addresses:
Inst Pasteur, Unite Genet Mol Bacterienne, 25-28 Roe Docteur Roux, F-75724 Paris 15, France.
Inst Pasteur, Unite Genet Mol Bacterienne, F-75724 Paris 15, France.
Inst Pasteur, Lab Genom Microorganismes Pathogenes, F-75724 Paris, France.
Inst Pasteur, Ctr Natl Reference Mycobacteries, F-75724 Paris 15, France.
Vet Labs Agcy, Weybridge KT15 3NB, Surrey, England.
Natl Inst Publ Hlth & Environm, Diagnost Lab Infect Dis & Perinatal Screening, Mycobacteria Reference Dept, NL-3720 BA Bilthoven, Netherlands.
New York State Dept Hlth, Wadsworth Ctr, Albany, NY 12201 USA.
SUNY Albany, Sch Publ Hlth, Albany, NY 12201 USA.
Univ Zaragoza, Dept Microbiol Med Prevent & Salud Publ, Zaragoza 50009, Spain. 


ST:  Why do you think your paper is highly cited?


“The paper gives a clear overview of the phylogenetic relationship among the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex...”

The paper is highly cited probably because it completely revises and complements our understanding regarding the evolution of the etiological agent of human tuberculosis. The paper gives a clear overview of the phylogenetic relationship among the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, a group of highly related bacteria which are often difficult to unambiguously differentiate by classical methods.

ST:  Does it describe a new discovery or new methodology that's useful to others?

It describes both new data that have allowed us to revise former hypotheses and it offers a rapid and reliable way to identify and differentiate the members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

ST:  How did you become involved in this research?

Having been involved in the sequencing and analysis of the whole genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and with our research in comparative genomics, we have identified genomic regions of difference that allowed an exhaustive study establishing the data presented in the paper.

ST:  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

It helps us to better understand how infectious diseases like tuberculosis arise.End

Dr. Roland Brosch
Research scientist (Charge de recherche)
Molecular Bacterial Genetics Unit 
(Unité de Génétique Moléculaire Bactérienne)
Institut Pasteur
Paris, France

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ESI Special Topics, June 2004
Citing URL: http://www.esi-topics.com/erf/2004/june04-RolandBrosch.html
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