However,after this initial interest in mycobacterial asparaginase,little progress was made in the characterization of these enzymes,particularly focusing on their use as biopharmaceuticals in ALL treatment.In the field of tuberculosis therapeutics, secreted MtA appears tobe an interesting drug target, as it promotes long-term bacilli survivalthrough neutralization of the phagolysosome environment by ammonialiberation after l-Asn hydrolysis. The gene discussed is ASPG; the disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia.