Persistent Mycobacteria Evade an Antibacterial Program Mediated by Phagolysosomal TLR7/8/MyD88 in Human Primary Macrophages, 2019

FRIMEDBIO project 2013-2018. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a global health problem. At the same time, epidemiological data show that the incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection with opportunistic M. avium is increasing, especially in countries where tuberculosis is not endemic and in people with impaired immune systems. The treatment of mycobacterial infections is complicated and long-lasting and there is increasing incidence of resistance. Therefore, there is a great need for new and more effective treatment. In this project, the main goal has been to understand the molecular mechanisms that the macrophage uses in an attempt to eliminate mycobacteria and, conversely, how the mycobacteria bypass these and take up residence in the macrophage. Knowledge from research on innate immune responses to mycobacteria was used to study similar responses in T cells and the importance of HIV infection.