Understanding why tuberculosis affects people so differently around the world

Margarida Saraiva

i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto – Associação, Portugal

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s most serious infectious diseases, yet exposure to tuberculosis-causing bacteria can lead to very different outcomes. Some people remain symptom-free, while others develop severe disease. This project seeks to explain these differences by examining how naturally occurring forms of the tuberculosis bacterium influence the body’s earliest responses to infection.

The research team has developed experimental models that reproduce the range of disease severity observed in patients. They will combine these models with information from clinical samples to identify which early biological responses help control the infection and which contribute to more severe disease. The project brings together infectious disease, microbiology, immunology and clinical research expertise.

By clarifying the early events that shape the course of tuberculosis, the project could reveal new ways to prevent severe disease and support recovery. Its findings may guide the development of more effective treatments and preventive strategies, contributing to better health outcomes for people affected by tuberculosis worldwide.

• Iñaki Comas, Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, M.P., Spain

• Anne O’Garra, Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom

How M. tuberculosis diversity drives immune responses across the spectrum of infection outcomes?

€999,478.00