Probing dermal immunity to mycobacteria through a controlled human infection model

Cutaneous mycobacterial infections cause substantial morbidity and are challenging to diagnose and treat. An improved understanding of the dermal immune response to mycobacteria may inspire new therapeutic approaches. We conducted a controlled human infection study with ten participants who received 2x10^6 colony forming units of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) (Tice strain) intradermally and were randomized to receive isoniazid or no treatment. Peripheral blood was collected at multiple timepoints for bulk RNA-seq and other assays. Injection site skin biopsies were performed at days 3 and 15 post-challenge and underwent immune profiling using single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) as well as other assays.