Sensing of HIV-1 by TLR8 Activates Human T Cells and Reverses, 2019

FRIMEDBIO project 2013-2018. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a global health problem. At the same time, epidemiological data show that the incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection with opportunistic M. avium is increasing, especially in countries where tuberculosis is not endemic and in people with impaired immune systems. The treatment of mycobacterial infections is complicated and long-lasting and there is increasing incidence of resistance. Therefore, there is a great need for new and more effective treatment. In this project, the main objective has been to understand the molecular mechanisms that the macrophage uses in an attempt to eliminate mycobacteria and, conversely, how the mycobacteria bypass these and take up residence in the macrophage. We have also used the knowledge we have from research on innate immune responses to mycobacteria to study similar responses in T cells and the importance of HIV infection.

FRIMEDBIO项目（2013—2018年）。结核病由结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis）引发，属于全球性公共卫生难题。流行病学数据显示，机会性鸟分枝杆菌（M. avium）所致的非结核分枝杆菌感染发病率持续上升，在结核病非流行国家以及免疫功能受损人群中尤为突出。分枝杆菌感染的治疗流程复杂且周期漫长，耐药性病例亦日益增多，因此亟需开发全新且更高效的治疗手段。本项目的核心目标为阐明巨噬细胞（macrophage）清除分枝杆菌的分子机制，以及分枝杆菌如何规避此类防御机制并在巨噬细胞内定植。此外，我们还依托针对分枝杆菌的固有免疫应答（innate immune responses）研究积累的知识，探究T细胞（T cells）中的同类免疫应答，以及HIV感染在此过程中的关键作用。