“This research gives us a better understanding of T cell actions to different phases in tuberculosis infection and helps us figure out is there are additional diagnostic targets, vaccine targets, or drug candidates to assist individuals with the illness,” says LJI Research Assistant Professor Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, Ph.D., who led the brand-new research study in partnership with LJI Professors Bjoern Peters, Ph.D., and Alessandro Sette, Dr.Biol.Sci.The immediate requirement for TB researchAccording to the World Health Organization, more than 1.3 million people passed away of TB in 2022, making it the second-leading contagious cause of death after COVID-19.”Uncovering T cell epitopes gives scientists vital info on how vaccines and drug treatments might take goal at the same epitopes to stop a pathogen.T cells take goal at a range of TB epitopesFor the brand-new study, the scientists worked with samples from clients who were mid-treatment for active TB. The immune system appeared to be working hard to zoom in on these epitopes.Going forward, Lindestam Arlehamns lab will examine which of these epitopes may be appealing targets for future TB vaccines and drug therapies.A step toward better diagnosticsThe new study is likewise an action towards capturing TB cases before they turn deadly.Because Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an air-borne bacteria, an individual can be exposed without ever recognizing it. “For the first time, we could differentiate people with active TB versus those that have been exposed to TB– or unexposed individuals,” says Lindestam Arlehamn.Lindestam Arlehamn states it may be possible to develop diagnostics that find this tell-tale T cell reactivity that marks an individuals shift from latent to active TB.
“This research study provides us a better understanding of T cell responses to different phases in tuberculosis infection and helps us figure out is there are extra diagnostic targets, vaccine targets, or drug candidates to assist people with the disease,” states LJI Research Assistant Professor Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, Ph.D., who led the brand-new research in partnership with LJI Professors Bjoern Peters, Ph.D., and Alessandro Sette, Dr.Biol.Sci.The urgent need for TB researchAccording to the World Health Organization, more than 1.3 million individuals died of TB in 2022, making it the second-leading transmittable cause of death after COVID-19.”Uncovering T cell epitopes provides researchers essential information on how vaccines and drug treatments may take aim at the very same epitopes to stop a pathogen.T cells take goal at a variety of TB epitopesFor the new research study, the scientists worked with samples from clients who were mid-treatment for active TB. “For the very first time, we might differentiate people with active TB versus those that have actually been exposed to TB– or unexposed individuals,” states Lindestam Arlehamn.Lindestam Arlehamn states it might be possible to develop diagnostics that find this tell-tale T cell reactivity that marks an individuals shift from hidden to active TB.
