Chemical genetic approach to cellular mechanisms of M. tuberculosis virulence.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes a five year research career development program in the study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) pathogenesis. The candidate is training in Infectious Diseases. The outlined proposal will provide training in the use of forward chemical genetics as a tool for studying mechanisms of microbial pathogensis and the host immune response, in preparation for a career as an independent physician-scientist in the field of M. tuberculosis pathogenesis and the host-pathogen interface. The work will be conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Deborah Hung, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Eric Rubin, Associate Professor of Immunology and Infectious Disease at Harvard School of Public Health. M. tuberculosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. A detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms of M. tuberculosis virulence would offer insight into new approaches to the treatment of tuberculosis. Upon entering the human host, M. tuberculosis is quickly taken up into macrophages, where it successfully evades being killed and establishes a chronic form of infection. The mechanisms by which it subverts macrophage pathways for eliminating intracellular bacteria are not well-described. Forward chemical genetics is a potentially powerful tool to advance our knowledge of manipulation of macrophage biology by M. tuberculosis. This proposal outlines a plan to to investigate the details of interactions between host macrophages and M. tuberculosis using both a forward chemical genetic and a classical genetic approach. It is anticipated that a better understanding of molecular details of M. tuberculosis virulence will offer new potential targets for the development of future therapeutics. Tuberculosis remains an important threat to health globally. Our current medications are inadequate to face the growing problems of tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis. This proposal aims to enhance our understanding of infection, to offer new possibilities for future treatment development.