PULMONARY SURFACTANT PROTEINS A AND D AND MYCOBACTERIA

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that affects 30% of the world population. Recent work suggests that two proteins within the lung can rapidly interact with the microorganism when it is inhaled. These proteins are named SP-A and SP-D. The SP-A protein appears to bind the bacteria and enable it to avoid recognition and destruction by the immune system. In contrast, the SP-D protein also appears to bind the tuberculosis causing bacteria and facilitate its destruction. We currently understand few of the details by which the SP-A and SP-D control the interactions of these bacteria with lung cells that are required for killing the bacteria. The purpose of this study is to examine these interactions in detail using preparations of SP-A and SP-D, tuberculosis causing bacteria and cells isolated from human lungs, that are required for the killing of the organism. In order to use the correct type of human lung cells for these studies we rinse small segments of human lung with a saline solution and recover the cells. The long-term goals of this project are to find ways to enhance the ability of SP-D to cause the killing of the bacteria and diminish the ability of SP-A reduce the killing of the bacteria.