Bacterial pili, with emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili: potential biomarkers for point-of care tests and therapeutics.

CONTEXT: Novel biomarkers are essential for developing rapid diagnostics and therapeutic interventions Objective: This review aimed to highlight biomarker characterisation and assessment of unique bacterial pili.

METHODS: A PubMed search for bacterial pili, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics was performed, with emphasis on the well characterised pili.

RESULTS: In total, 46 papers were identified and reviewed.

CONCLUSION: Extensive analyses of pili enabled by advanced nanotechnology and whole genome sequencing provide evidence that they are strong biomarker candidates. Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili are emphasised as important epitopes for the development of much needed point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics.