How immune cells respond to tuberculosis bacteria
Official title: Host responses to Mycobacterium infection in Zebrafish
Funded at University of Cambridge · NIH-11336317 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using zebrafish as a model, researchers are learning how immune signals like TNF and mTOR can cause tuberculosis lesions to break down or stay stable, with the goal of helping people with TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cambridge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | April 15, 2003 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $250,409 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI054503-23 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336317 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This grant does not enroll people, but its findings are most relevant to patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis or those at high risk for severe TB.
✕Less likely to help
People without tuberculosis or with infections caused by other organisms are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-based research.
What this research studies
This work uses tiny zebrafish larvae to model the lumps of immune cells (granulomas) that form in tuberculosis and to watch how they die or survive. Scientists change host genes and immune signals such as TNF and mTOR and expose the fish to bacterial factors like ESAT-6 to see what causes harmful tissue breakdown. The team follows cellular events like macrophage survival, mitochondrial damage, and necrosis to map distinct pathways that let bacteria exploit the immune response. Findings aim to point to ways to prevent granuloma necrosis and reduce bacterial growth and spread.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify pathways to prevent granuloma breakdown, which may reduce bacterial burden, illness severity, and transmission in TB patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous zebrafish and other animal studies have successfully revealed host and bacterial factors in TB granuloma biology, though translating those findings into human therapies is still ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramakrishnan, Lalita — University of Cambridge
- Study coordinator: Ramakrishnan, Lalita
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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.