How COVID-19 may weaken protection against tuberculosis
Tuberculosis Immunopathogenesis During Superinfection with SARS-CoV2
This project looks at whether getting COVID-19 can weaken the body's defenses against latent tuberculosis and let TB spread, using laboratory models to learn what might put people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11333336 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using a mouse model that mimics human latent TB to see how a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection changes immune responses and allows tuberculosis bacteria to grow and spread. They will measure immune signals (for example, IFN-gamma and IL-10) and track where TB moves in the body after COVID-19 infection. The team will test specific immune pathways to understand which changes cause TB to worsen and which might be prevented. Findings are intended to point to treatments or timing strategies that could reduce TB reactivation after COVID-19.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with latent TB infection, a history of TB disease, or those who recently had COVID-19 and are concerned about TB risk would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People without prior TB exposure or without concerns about TB and COVID-19 co-infection are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could suggest ways to protect people with latent TB from reactivation during or after COVID-19, guiding treatments or preventive actions.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies and some clinical reports have suggested COVID-19 can worsen TB outcomes, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear, so this work builds on preliminary evidence.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Talaat, Adel M — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Talaat, Adel M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.