Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an intracellular bacterium that causes tuberculosis. The M. tuberculosis genome includes 17 genes encoding

Question:

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an intracellular bacterium that causes tuberculosis. The M. tuberculosis genome includes 17 genes encoding adenylate cyclase, whereas free-living bacteria typically have just one AC gene. Why might it be an advantage for M. tuberculosis to generate high adenylate cyclase activity?