Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health emergency caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In 2023, World Health Organisation (WHO) reported ~11 million people fell ill from TB, resulting in ~1.3 million deaths. The WHO End TB Strategy aims to reduce TB deaths and incidence rates by 2035. Moreover, incidence of drug-resistant TB is on the rise, and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections from environmental mycobacteria are becoming a growing public health concern worldwide. NTM are highly resistant to antibiotics and can cause infections and co-infections in immune-compromised individuals. To address these challenges and achieve the WHO goal, we need to better understand how mycobacteria evade our immune system and cause the diseases.

Bacterial pathogens need iron to survive and establish successful infection. In humans, approximately 70% of iron is in the form of haem within haemoglobin, which is found in the blood and is responsible for oxygen transport and the red colour. Both humans and bacteria have haem-degrading enzymes that break open haem to release the iron, converting the red/brown pigment into the green-pigmented skeletal product called biliverdin. In humans, biliverdin is further metabolised into yellow and brown pigments, a biochemical process observable in the colour of human bile, bruises, and waste (urine and faecal matter). How do bacterial pathogens process haem?

The interdisciplinary project explores molecular mechanisms of haem utilisation, bacterial metabolism, infection models, and drugs to develop treatment and prevention strategies against TB, NTM, and other diseases.

Further information

Visit the Pigments of Life laboratory website