Host Pathogen Variation and TB Pathogenesis

Dr. Thomas Hawn, professor and interim head (Allergy and Infectious Diseases) received a 5 year renewal of a P01 grant from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases entitled “Host Pathogen Variation and TB Pathogenesis.” Department of Medicine co-investigator is Matthew Altman.

Hurdles for controlling tuberculosis (TB) include developing a highly efficacious vaccine, preventing transmission and infection in endemic areas, and discovering drug treatment regimens that work rapidly and kill dormant bacilli within macrophages. After exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the subsequent clinical outcomes vary dramatically, from resistance to infection to disseminated disease, including TB meningitis. 

The goal of this grant is to discover genetic differences that underlie TB clinical outcomes which will lead to new insights into host-pathogen interactions, novel biomarkers for clinical management, and innovative immunomodulatory treatment strategies.