Probably plays a role in host phagosome maturation arrest (PubMed:20844580). Grows normally in liquid culture, traffics into host (human and mouse) acidified compartments early after phagocytosis, suggesting it no longer arrests phagosome maturation as well as wild-type, impaired growth in mouse macrophages (PubMed:20844580). Was identified as a high-confidence drug target. Belongs to the mycobacterial PPE family.