Mycobacterium tuberculosis proline–glutamic acid (PE)/proline–proline–glutamic acid (PPE) family proteins, with >160 members, are crucial for virulence, cell wall, host cell fate, host Th1/Th2 balance, and CD8+ T cell recognition. Ca2+ signaling is involved in PE/PPE protein-mediated host–pathogen interaction. PE/PPE proteins also function in heme utilization and nitric oxide production. PE/PPE family proteins are intensively pursued as diagnosis biomarkers and vaccine components.
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