Understanding how certain immune cells affect tuberculosis susceptibility
Official title: Defining Mechanisms for Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell-driven Mycobacterium tuberculosis Susceptibility
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10985384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in the body help fight off tuberculosis, the disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, using a mouse model to find new ways to improve treatment for people with this infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $162,000 |
| NIH project number | 1K22AI179939-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10985384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be adults at risk of tuberculosis infection or those with a history of the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for tuberculosis or those who have already been effectively treated may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the body's response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis. Using a mouse model that mimics human infection, the researchers aim to identify how these immune cells contribute to the progression of the disease and explore potential therapeutic targets. The study will track the movement and function of pDCs during infection to better understand their impact on Mtb control. By uncovering these mechanisms, the research seeks to pave the way for new treatment strategies that could enhance the immune response against tuberculosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that improve the immune response to tuberculosis, potentially reducing the disease's impact on patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting immune responses to improve outcomes in tuberculosis, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kotov, Dmitri I — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Kotov, Dmitri I
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
-
Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
-
Air pollution and TB transmission in Kampala’s urban slums
This project looks at whether air pollution from PM2.5 makes tuberculosis spread more easily from infected people to their neighbors in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda.
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.