Propionate prevents loss of the PDIM virulence lipid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract

Phthiocerol dimycocerosate (PDIM) is an essential virulence lipid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In vitro culturing rapidly selects for spontaneous PDIM-negative mutants that have attenuated virulence and increased cell wall permeability, thus impacting the relevance of experimental findings. PDIM loss can also reduce the efficacy of the BCG Pasteur vaccine. Here we show that vancomycin susceptibility can rapidly screen for M. tuberculosis PDIM production. We find that metabolic deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA impedes the growth of PDIM-producing bacilli, selecting for PDIM-negative variants. Supplementation with odd-chain fatty acids, cholesterol or vitamin B₁₂ restores PDIM-positive bacterial growth. Specifically, we show that propionate supplementation enhances PDIM-producing bacterial growth and selects against PDIM-negative mutants, analogous to in vivo conditions. Our study provides a simple approach to screen for and maintain PDIM production, and reveals how discrepancies between the host and in vitro nutrient environments can attenuate bacterial pathogenicity.