# Propionate prevents loss of the PDIM virulence lipid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

*PRI Rank #20 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/tuberculosis-research-and-epidemiology/2026/rank-20*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #20 |
| 18m citations | 32 |
| Journal | Nature Microbiology |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41564-024-01697-8 |
| Corresponding authors | Michael Berney |
| Institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/tuberculosis-research-and-epidemiology/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41564-024-01697-8](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01697-8)

## Topics

propionate · phthiocerol dimycocerosate · phthiocerol dimycocerosate · Mycobacterium tuberculosis · Lipid virulence factor · lipid biosynthesis · metabolic regulation · Virulence factors · mycolic acids · carbon metabolism · short-chain fatty acids · Mycobacterial cell envelope · pathogenicity · lipid loss prevention

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/tuberculosis-research-and-epidemiology/2026. Accessed 2026-07-24.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```