TB
BACTERIA : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS
: Studies
Focus on How TB Bacteria Evade Immune Response
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS ?
Scientists are intrigued by whatever allows the
bacteria to survive in a macrophage’s hostile environment and are on the
lookout for proteins that shield it
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes tuberculosis (TB),
primarily affects lungs, and spreads via airborne droplets.
- Mtb has a thick cell wall, resists
antibiotics, and thrives in oxygen-rich environments like the lungs.
- Symptoms: Persistent cough, fever, weight loss, chest
pain.
- Diagnosis and Treatment: Skin/blood tests, chest
X-rays, antibiotics for 6-9 months. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine
reduces TB severity in children.
- India’s Efforts:
- National TB Elimination Programme aims to
eradicate TB by 2025.
- Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides Rs 1000 to TB
patients.
- Ayushman Bharat Digital
Health Mission
integrates TB patients into digital health systems.
- 2 vaccines, VPM1002 and MIP, are under
Phase-3 clinical trials.
- Macrophages: Immune cells that normally destroy bacteria
struggle to eliminate Mtb. Mtb survives in tubercles, protected by lipids,
and can remain dormant.
- Mtb’s Co-evolution: Co-evolved with humans
over 70,000 years, developing ways to evade immune defenses.
- Cysteine Synthase Research: Mtb uses cysteine synthase
enzymes (CysK2, CysM) to survive oxidative stress. These are potential
targets for new drug development.
- Studies showed that inhibiting cysteine
synthases made TB treatments more effective.
Source
: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/studies-zero-in-on-biology-tb-bacteria-uses-to-evade-immune-response/article68752164.ece