Metabolite Profiling: A Tool for the Biochemical Characterisation of Mycobacterium sp.

Over the last few decades, the occurrence of drug-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, has increased in prevalence. These findings have rekindled interest in elucidating the unique adaptive molecular and biochemistry physiology of Mycobacterium. The use of metabolite profiling independently or in combination with other levels of “omic” analysis has proven an effective approach for the elucidation of key physiological/biochemical properties associated with Mtb throughout the infection. The following review will discuss the use of metabolite profiling in tuberculosis research, future approaches and the technical and logistical limitations of methodology to date.