Molecular immunity to mycobacteria: knowledge from... [Int J Infect Dis. 2011] - PubMed result

Int J Infect Dis. 2011 Feb 15. [Epub ahead of print]

Molecular immunity to mycobacteria: knowledge from the mutation and phenotype spectrum analysis of Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases.
Qu HQ, Fisher-Hoch SP, McCormick JB.

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Brownsville Campus, 80 Fort Brown, SPH Bldg, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA.


Abstract

Understanding molecular immunity against mycobacterial infection is critical for the development of effective strategies to control tuberculosis (TB), which is a major health issue in the developing world. Host immunogenetic studies represent an indispensable approach to understand the molecular mechanisms against mycobacterial infection. A superb paradigm is the identification of rare mutations causing Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD). Mutations in the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) receptor genes are highly specific (although not exclusive) for mycobacterial infection. Only dominant negative mutations of STAT1 have specific susceptibility to mycobacterial infection. Mutations in the interleukin-12 (IL-12) signaling genes have phenotypes with non-specificity. Current studies highlight a complex molecular network in antimycobacterial immunity, centered on IFN-γ signaling.

Copyright © 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21330176 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Molecular immunity to mycobacteria: knowledge from... [Int J Infect Dis. 2011] - PubMed result