Ernst Lab

Research focus

NIH R01 · 2024

Functionally distinct human CD4 T cell responses to novel evolutionarily selected M. tuberculosis antigens

Although CD4 T cells are essential for immunity to tuberculosis (TB), the features of CD4 T cells that provide protective immunity are not well understood. This knowledge gap is due in part to limited knowledge of the M. tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens that induce protective immune responses. In other pathogens, immune recognition of some antigens provides protection, while recognition of other antigens does not. Likewise in other pathogens, the antigenic targets of protective immunity undergo diversifying evolutionary selection to generate antigenic variation and escape immune recognition. We hypothesized that these principles apply to Mtb, and in earlier studies we made the unexpected…

From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.