Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a serious global health problem accounting for 1.3 million worldwide deaths annually. There is no vaccine for TB, and treatment is a 6-9 month course of multiple antibiotics, which results in high rates of non-compliance and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Scientists funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering used computers to model the formation of tuberculosis granulomas in the lung — the non-active (latent) form of infection found in 2 billion individuals worldwide (11 million in the U.S.) that can activate to become a life-threatening infection. Employing a computer model aims to speed analysis of TB’s complex life-cycle and to identify potential new antibiotics, antibiotic targets, and biomarkers that can predict transition to active infection.
TB granuloma form in the lungs when an individual inhales the bacterium. The granular structure develops as immune cells attack but are unable to destroy the bacterium. Instead, the bacteria enter and reside in the immune cells—specifically, macrophages–forming the center of the granuloma. A large number of uninfected macrophages are attracted to the site, surrounding the central infected cells. The 1-3 millimeter granuloma also contains fibrous and necrotic tissue as well as a number of other types of immune cells, making it an extremely complex structure.
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