Schematic overview of molecular transport mechanisms present in <i>M.</i> africanum.

<p>Genetic information of 132 genes encoding various families of membrane transporters was compared between the sequenced <i>M. africanum</i> strains and <i>M. tuberculosis</i> H37Rv. The analysis comprised both, transport mechanisms specific to nutrients and macromolecules (upper and lower figure). Genes that are identical to the wildtype <i>M. tuberculosis</i> H37Rv gene homologue are displayed with a solid border line and white background. Genes, with non-synonymous mutation are displayed in blue with dashed lines. Genes with a frameshift mutation, are displayed with striped background.</p

List of growth-attenuating genes with non-synonymous or frameshift mutations in <i>M. africanum</i>.

<p>List of growth-attenuating genes with non-synonymous or frameshift mutations in <i>M. africanum</i>.</p

Status of putative <i>M.</i> africanum operons essential for intracellular survival.

<p>Seven operons were previously defined as essential for growth within the macrophage <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002220#pntd.0002220-Rengarajan1" target="_blank">[13]</a>. Genes that are identical to the wildtype <i>M. tuberculosis</i> H37Rv gene homologue are displayed with a solid border line and white background. Genes, with a non-synonymous mutation are displayed in blue with dashed lines. Genes with a frameshift mutation, are displayed with striped background.</p

<i>In vitro</i> growth curves from standardized inocula.

<p><i>M. tuberculosis</i> (solid line) and <i>M. africanum</i> (dashed line) were grown from standardized inocula in Bactec MGIT 960 and measured growth units (GU) are plotted versus time [days].</p

Growth of <i>M. tuberculosis</i> complex isolates from sputum in The Gambia in two liquid culture systems.

*<p>Wilcoxon rank sum test comparing median time for <i>M. africanum</i> vs. <i>M. tuberculosis</i>.</p