Foam cells as drug targets in tuberculosis
Summary
Many studies have shown that tuberculosis brings about the formation of host macrophages rich in lipids (foam cells), which interfere with the immune system's ability to clear the infection and promote destruction of lung tissue. Several host pathways are involved in forming or degrading the lipids deposited in these foam cells. In this proposal, we will use clinical samples from donors with tuberculosis, cell culture systems, and animal models, to test the hypothesis that blocking the formation of foam cells improves tuberculosis infection outcomes.