Tuberculosis has been resurgent recently, with ~9 million cases and 1.7 million deaths in 2004, and represents the leading cause of death from a curable disease. This upsurge is due in part to: the HIV epidemic, population migration and the emergent evolution of antibiotics-resistant bacteria. The pathogenic bacteria responsible for M. tuberculosis (Mtb) replicates within cells of the immune system called macrophages over a ~72h period, ultimately inducing cell death. There is broad evidence that vitamin D modulates macrophage responses to Mtb. Elevated levels of TB, particularly in vulnerable immigrant populations, have long been associated with vitamin D deficiency, suggesting that vitamin D supplementation may be of therapeutic benefit.
The goal of this project is to fully understand the host macrophage response to Mtb infection through the use of cutting-edge genomics techniques and the role of vitamin D in boosting the host response against infection using similar techniques. The results of this project will allow the discovery of new immunization approaches and therapies to fight tuberculosis.
Co-applicants:
| Marcel | Behr | McGill University |
| Mathieu | Blanchette | McGill University |
| Maziar | Divangahi | McGill University |
| Suneil | Malik | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Rob | Sladek | McGill University |
| Andrew F. | Smith | McGill University |