ESAT-6 has been shown to directly bind to the TLR2 receptor, inhibiting downstream signal transduction. It has also been studied that the inactivation of ESAT-6 leads to decreased virulence of M. tuberculosis.
ESAT-6 has been observed to physically connect with the TLR2 receptor, preventing further signal transmission. Additionally, research has shown that disabling ESAT-6 leads to a decrease in the infectiousness of M. tuberculosis.