Improving TB Vaccines by Understanding How Bacteria Interact with Immune Cells
Project 2: Innate immune responses triggered by M. tuberculosis phagosomal perforation
This project aims to understand how tuberculosis bacteria interact with our immune cells to help create more effective vaccines, especially for adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135562 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health concern, and the current vaccine, BCG, is not effective enough at preventing lung infections in adults. This project focuses on understanding how the TB bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, interact with our immune system's cells. Researchers are looking into specific ways the bacteria can hide from or trigger immune responses, particularly how they might damage immune cell compartments. By uncovering these bacterial strategies, the goal is to develop new and improved versions of the BCG vaccine that can better activate our immune defenses against TB.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients, but its findings are intended to benefit adults at risk of or living with tuberculosis in the future.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by tuberculosis would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new, more effective vaccines against tuberculosis, particularly for adults.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon existing knowledge of bacterial virulence factors and immune responses, aiming to apply new insights to vaccine development.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cox, Jeffery S — University of California Berkeley
- 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.