A mycobacterial operon essential for virulence in vivo and invasion and intracellular persistence in macrophages.

The ability to invade and grow in macrophages is necessary for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to cause disease. We have found a Mycobacterium marinum locus of two genes that is required for both invasion and intracellular survival in macrophages. The genes were designated iipA (mycobacterial invasion and intracellular persistence) and iipB.