Immune cell patterns in tuberculosis lung lesions
Functional dynamics of TB granuloma architecture
['FUNDING_U01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · NIH-11386342
Researchers are mapping how immune cells and TB bacteria are arranged inside lung lesions to learn why some lesions heal while others become damaging.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11386342 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project compares TB lesions from people, rhesus macaques, and new mouse strains to find common and different cellular layouts. Teams will use high-parameter multiplex immunostaining to visualize many cell types and their locations within granulomas. They will study immune signals such as type I interferons and interferon-gamma to see how these molecules relate to cell movement, activation, and lesion necrosis. The goal is to combine data across species to pinpoint cellular and molecular drivers of harmful granuloma outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active pulmonary tuberculosis who can provide diagnostic samples or tissue (for example during clinical procedures) would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without TB, those with latent infection, or those not providing clinical samples are unlikely to see direct benefits from this grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify targets or biomarkers to prevent destructive lung lesion necrosis and improve TB treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior imaging studies have mapped immune cells in TB lesions, but combining high-multiplex spatial mapping across humans, macaques, and new mouse models at this scale is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO — SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ERNST, JOEL D. — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- Study coordinator: ERNST, JOEL D.
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.