How macrophages change when granulomas form
Macrophage Reprogramming During Granuloma Formation in the Zebrafish
Researchers are using zebrafish to see how immune cells called macrophages transform during granuloma formation to better understand infections like tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11291235 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses a zebrafish model to recreate granulomas and watch how macrophages change shape and behavior. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing to read which genes are turned on in individual macrophages and test how opposing immune signals (Type 1 vs Type 2) control that transformation. The project will probe specific pathways such as EMP2/FAK and JAG1-Notch to learn how granulomas hold together or break apart and how that affects spread of infection. Finally, the researchers will compare the fish findings to human disease samples to see whether the same changes happen in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with tuberculosis or other granuloma-forming infections, or those willing to donate clinical samples for comparison, would be the most relevant candidates to contribute to the human portion of this work.
Not a fit: People without granulomatous infections or unrelated conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-science-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biological targets to prevent granuloma breakdown and the spread of infections like tuberculosis, which may lead to better treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and cell studies have documented macrophage reprogramming in granulomas, but combining single-cell sequencing with pathway manipulation and direct comparison to human samples is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tobin, David M. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Tobin, David 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.