Title:Mycobacterium tuberculosis interactions with the host 

Presenter: Prof. John Chan

University: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA.

Time: 10:00-11:00, 21 June, 2011

Venue: A203, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Abstract: The granulomatous response plays a significant role in host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb). While the functions of T cells in the immune response to Mtb have been the focus of many studies, the role of B cells in this process is controversial. B cells are a prominent component of lung granuloma in Mtb-infected humans, cynomolgus macaques, and mice. In tuberculous lungs of humans and mice, these cells form discrete lymphoid aggregates with features of germinal center B lymphocytes. In lung granulomas of Mtb-infected macaques, B cells can also form nodules, are prominent in the lymphocytic cuff and exhibit activation markers; and there are abundant plasma cells.

Our Studies using the B cell-deficientμMT mouse model and specific Fcg receptor knockout mice have shown that humor immune response regulates the tuberculous granulomatous reaction and is required for optimal control of Mtb. There is also evidence that B cells can regulate T cell response in infected hosts. We are conducting experiments aimed at characterizing the roles of B cells in regulating the host granulomatous response to Mtb.