Mycobacteria LAM

Mycobacteria LAM (Lipoarabinomannan) is a lipopolysaccharide-like molecule on the cell surface of Mycobacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It plays multiple roles in bacterial pathogenicity: maintaining cell wall structure, mediating bacterial adhesion to host cells, and inhibiting host immune responses (e.g., suppressing macrophage activation). LAM also affects the host's inflammatory response, promoting bacterial survival in host cells. It is a key virulence factor, used as a marker for Mycobacteria infection diagnosis and a candidate antigen for vaccines, as targeting it may enhance host immunity against Mycobacteria.