How lung immune cells and tuberculosis bacteria interact
PROJECT 1: Identification of host and bacterial pathways that control tuberculosis pathogenesis in humans
This project looks at how tuberculosis bacteria affect different lung immune cells to find ways to prevent or treat TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088231 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating new lab models of alveolar macrophages—the lung cells that first encounter TB bacteria—and using broad molecular and genomic methods to map how both the bacteria and host cells change during infection. They combine experiments on human-relevant cells, bacterial genetics, and bioinformatics to identify host and bacterial pathways that let TB survive or cause disease. The team aims to pinpoint molecular networks that could become targets for new drugs or vaccines. Most work is lab-based but uses human cells and samples to reflect what happens in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with active pulmonary tuberculosis or those willing to donate lung or blood samples for TB research.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment benefits, those with non-pulmonary TB or unrelated conditions, or those unwilling to provide samples may not see direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for therapies or vaccines that better prevent or treat pulmonary tuberculosis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows macrophage responses shape TB outcomes, but applying unbiased human-alveolar-macrophage models to map exact pathways is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cox, Jeffery S — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Cox, Jeffery S
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.