Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses during Acute M. tuberculosis Infection in Adult Household Contacts in Kampala, Uganda

Contacts of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients are at risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Because most infections are controlled, studies during MTB infection provide insight into protective immunity. We compared immune responses of adult household contacts that did and did not convert the tuberculin skin test (TST). Innate and adaptive immune responses were measured by whole blood assay. Responses of TST converters (TSTC) were compared with persistently TST negative contacts (PTST–) and contacts who were TST+ at baseline (TST+). TLR-2, TLR-4, and IFN-gR responses to IFN-g did not differ between the groups, nor did gd T cell responses. T cell responses to MTB antigens differed markedly among TSTC, PTST–, and TST+ contacts. Thus, no differences in innate responses were found among the three household contact groups. However, adaptive T cell responses to MTB antigens did differ before and during MTB infection among PTST–, TSTC, and TST+ contacts.

Keywords

Immune Responses, Tuberculosis Infection, Household Contacts

Citation

Mahan, C. S., Zalwango, S., Thiel, B. A., Malone, L. L., Chervenak, K. A., Baseke, J., ... & Boom, W. H. (2012). Innate and adaptive immune responses during acute M. tuberculosis infection in adult household contacts in Kampala, Uganda. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 86(4), 690.doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0553

URI

https://nru.uncst.go.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/249

Collections

Medical and Health Sciences

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