Immune cells and molecular makeup of TB lung lesions
Dynamics of the cellular and molecular architecture of human pulmonary TB granulomas
This project maps the immune cells and molecules inside lung tuberculosis lesions to learn why some lesions control bacteria while others worsen, for people with pulmonary TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11469279 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have pulmonary tuberculosis, researchers will analyze small samples from lung lesions to see which immune cells and signals are present. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial sequencing to locate and profile individual cells inside granulomas. The team will compare lesions with low versus high bacterial loads and follow how macrophage and T cell types change as lesions progress. The goal is to find which cell types help clear infection and which drive tissue damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with active pulmonary tuberculosis who can provide lung tissue or biopsy samples during care at participating clinical sites.
Not a fit: People with latent TB, extrapulmonary TB, or those unable to provide lung tissue samples are unlikely to directly participate or benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal immune cell targets or biomarkers that lead to new treatments or tests to predict which lung lesions will heal versus worsen.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies have used single-cell and spatial methods in TB and identified important cell subsets, but comprehensive mapping of human granuloma architecture at this depth is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Modlin, Robert L — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Modlin, Robert L
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.