Understanding how genes and immune cells respond to tuberculosis across ancestries
Integrating single-cell omics and ancestry-adjusted eQTL mapping to characterize Tuberculosis immune response
This project uses detailed single-cell immune profiling together with ancestry-aware genetics to learn why some people exposed to TB stay healthy while others develop active disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will take blood samples to analyze individual immune cells (PBMCs) using CITE-seq and will link those cell-level signatures to each person’s whole-genome data. They will compare people at three TB stages: latent infection, recent infection, and after completing TB treatment, to find cell types and gene programs that change across those states. The team will perform ancestry-adjusted eQTL mapping to find genetic variants that control gene expression in specific immune cells. The work is done in a TB-endemic South African population where the group has existing infrastructure to enroll and follow participants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults from the study sites in South Africa who have latent TB infection, recent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, or have recently completed TB treatment.
Not a fit: Children, people without TB exposure or infection, and individuals who live outside the participating geographic sites are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help create tests or markers that better predict who is likely to progress from latent TB to active disease and guide targeted prevention or treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous bulk RNA-seq and some single-cell studies have yielded useful immune insights, but combining whole-genome data with single-cell CITE-seq and ancestry-adjusted eQTL mapping across TB disease states is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henn, Brenna M — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Henn, Brenna M
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.