Th9 immune cells and protection from tuberculosis
Official title: Th9 cells and protective TB immunity
Funded at Saint Louis University · NIH-11322527 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether a type of immune cell called Th9 helps protect people from tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | March 9, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $667,594 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI168543-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322527 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have received BCG vaccination or who have latent TB infection and are willing to provide blood and possibly lung samples would be the best candidates to contribute.
✕Less likely to help
People with unrelated health conditions or those with active, untreated TB are unlikely to gain direct short-term benefit from this basic immunology research.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare immune cells from people vaccinated with BCG and from those with latent TB infection to see how much IL-9 and Th9 responses they make. They will analyze blood and lung samples (bronchoalveolar lavage) to measure these Th9 signals after exposure to TB bacteria. In the lab the team will grow Th9-like cells and test whether those cells can help kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis in controlled experiments. Combining human sample analysis with laboratory models will help clarify whether boosting Th9 responses could improve TB protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new vaccine strategies or immune therapies that better prevent or clear TB infections.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies show Th1 cells are necessary but not always protective and preliminary human and mouse data indicate Th9/IL-9 responses rise after BCG or latent infection, making this a relatively new but promising angle.
Where this research is happening
-
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoft, Daniel F. — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Hoft, Daniel F.
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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.