Abstract:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a Gram-positive bacterium of great clinical relevance, is a lethal pathogen
owing to its complex physiological characteristics and development of drug resistance. Several molecular
genetic tools have been developed in the past few decades to study this microorganism. These tools have
been instrumental in understanding how M. tuberculosis became a successful pathogen. Advanced molecular
genetic tools have played a significant role in exploring the complex pathways involved in
M. tuberculosis pathogenesis. Here, we review various molecular genetic tools used in the study of
M. tuberculosis. Further, we discuss the applications of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic
repeat interference (CRISPRi), a novel technology recently applied in M. tuberculosis research to study
target gene functions. Finally, prospective outcomes of the applications of molecular techniques in the
field of M. tuberculosis genetic research are also discussed.
