![Immune Evasion in TB Infection]()
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), is notorious for its ability to evade the body’s immune response. John Chan, M.D., Steven Porcelli, M.D., and Michael Berney, Ph.D., have found evidence that M. tuberculosis evades anti-TB immunity by activating an immunosuppressive pathway controlled by the host enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). The NIH has awarded them a five-year, $4 million grant to study how immunosuppression mediated by IDO activation helps M. tuberculosis circumvent immune defenses. The researchers will use genetic and pharmacologic approaches and mouse TB models for their proposed studies. The results could lead to new interventions for better TB control, including effective vaccines. Dr. Chan is professor of medicine and of microbiology & immunology at Einstein and is an attending physician in infectious diseases at Montefiore Health System. Dr. Porcelli is professor and chair of microbiology & immunology, professor of medicine and the Murray and Evelyn Weinstock Chair in Microbiology and Immunology at Einstein. Dr. Berney is an assistant professor of microbiology & immunology at Einstein. (1R01AI137344-01)
Posted on: Thursday, July 05, 2018