Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection alters macrophage gene expression and macrophage response to IFN-γ, a critical host defense cytokine. However, regulation of these changes is poorly understood. We report discordance of changes in nascent transcript and total nuclear RNA abundance for the transcription factors STAT1 and IRF1, together with lack of effect on their RNA half-lives, in human THP...

Individuals who are latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis can develop active disease via either endogenous reactivation of the latent bacilli or exogenous reinfection with a second mycobacterial strain. In this study, we investigated whether immunization with a tuberculosis DNA vaccine cocktail that induces significant protective responses in mice could prevent reactivation of disea...

Evaluation of: Pareek M, Watson JP, Ormerod LP et al. Screening of immigrants in the UK for imported latent tuberculosis: a multicentre cohort study and cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Infect. Dis. 11(6), 435-444 (2011).Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem in the UK, and detection and prophylactic treatment of latent infection offers improved control. A recent study advocate...

CD8 T-cells contribute to control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, but little is known about the quality of the CD8 T-cell response in subjects with latent infection and in patients with active tuberculosis disease. CD8 T-cells recognizing epitopes from 6 different proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were detected by tetramer staining. Intracellular cytokines staining for specific pr...

An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in Italy involved 19 schoolchildren with active TB and 43 with latent infection. The source of the outbreak was a school assistant born in Italy who had a family history of TB. This outbreak highlights the need for maintaining clinical and public health expertise in countries with low TB incidence.

OBJECTIVES To determine the impact of a community-based programme of yaws control in Esmeraldas province in Ecuador. METHODS Community health workers provided mass treatment and subsequent surveillance for the detection and treatment of new cases and their contacts over the period 1988 to 1993. Clinical and serological surveys were performed in the study area in 1988 and 1993. RESULTS Over ...

OBJECTIVE An increased risk of tuberculosis has been documented in humans treated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-neutralizing agents. In murine models, impaired signaling by TNF causes exacerbation of both acute and chronic infection associated with aberrant granuloma formation and maintenance. This study was undertaken to investigate immune modulation in the setting of TNF neutral...

Tuberculosis is a major cause of death in much of the world. Current estimates are that one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most infected persons control the infection but in many cases may not eliminate the organism. Reactivation of this clinically latent infection is responsible for a large proportion of active tuberculosis cases. A major risk fact...

Latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) is defined by the presence of M. tuberculosis-specific immunity in the absence of active tuberculosis. LTBI is detected using interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) or the tuberculin-skin-test (TST). In clinical practice, IGRAs and the TSTs have failed to distinguish between active tuberculosis and LTBI and their predictive value to identify ...