How tuberculosis avoids the body's immune defenses
Mechanisms of Innate Immune Evasion by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
This work looks at how two TB factors help Mycobacterium tuberculosis hide from immune cells so future treatments can better clear tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260152 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the research uses human immune cells (macrophages and neutrophils) grown in the lab and mouse models to see how two TB components, CpsA and PDIM, block the immune response. The team measures reactive oxygen species production and tracks autophagy-related pathways such as LC3-associated phagocytosis and xenophagy to find where the bacteria escape destruction. They study physical interactions between bacterial factors and host autophagy adaptor proteins (like NDP52 and TAX1BP1) and compare normal and modified bacteria using genetic and biochemical methods. The goal is to uncover specific bacterial tricks that could become targets for medicines that help immune cells kill TB.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with active pulmonary tuberculosis who could donate blood, sputum, or tissue samples or who might join future clinical trials informed by these findings.
Not a fit: People without tuberculosis or with unrelated health conditions are unlikely to receive any direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new therapies or vaccine strategies that help immune cells clear tuberculosis more effectively.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and animal work shows autophagy and ROS pathways matter for TB control, but directly targeting the virulence factors CpsA and PDIM is a relatively new and specific approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Philips, Jennifer a — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Philips, Jennifer a
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.