The characterisation of dendritic cell, microglial, macrophage and T cell responses during mycobacterial infection of the central nervous system
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge and a quarter of the global population is infected with latent TB. It is a single infection that causes most deaths and was the number one cause of death in South Africa in 2017. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) remains the only licensed vaccine for protection against TB. Although TB primarily occurs as a pulmonary infection after inhalation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) bacilli, it can disseminate to other organs causing extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB). Approximately 5-15% of EPTB cases are attributed to central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB) which commonly manifests as TB meningitis. CNS-TB is a severe form of TB associated with high morbidity and about 50% mortality due to inconclusive diagnosis and treatment challenges. Children and immunocompromised adults like those coinfected with HIV/AIDS are higher risk groups for the development of CNS-TB. Pathogenesis of CNS-TB occurs as a secondary infection during haematogenous dissemination of pulmonary TB to the brain parenchyma and meninges where inflammation occurs after rupture of rich foci into the subarachnoid space. Mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis infects the CNS and specific cell types targeted are not fully characterized. Little is understood of the cells that regulate CNS-TB, their respective functions, their cellular interactions, and contributions to the overall protection of the CNS. Most studies have focussed on microglia and macrophages as the preferential targeted antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by M. tuberculosis and neglected dendritic cells (DCs) to an extent because no consensus had been reached regarding the presence of DCs in a healthy CNS. Both myeloid (APCs) and T cells contribute to protection against CNS-TB. This study characterized the dendritic cell, microglial, macrophage, and T cell responses during mycobacterial infection of the CNS. We also investigated the modulation of T cells by DCs during CNS-TB. Metho…
abstract: Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge and a quarter of the global population is infected with latent TB. It is a single infection that causes most deaths and was the number one cause of death in South Africa in 2017. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) remains the only licensed vaccine for protection against TB. Although TB primarily occurs as a pulmonary infection after inhalation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) bacilli, it can disseminate to other organs causing extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB). Approximately 5-15% of EPTB cases are attributed to central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB) which commonly manifests as TB meningitis. CNS-TB is a severe form of TB associated with high morbidity and about 50% mortality due to inconclusive diagnosis and treatment challenges. Children and immunocompromised adults like those coinfected with HIV/AIDS are higher risk groups for the development of CNS-TB. Pathogenesis of CNS-TB occurs as a secondary infection during haematogenous dissemination of pulmonary TB to the brain parenchyma and meninges where inflammation occurs after rupture of rich foci into the subarachnoid space. Mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis infects the CNS and specific cell types targeted are not fully characterized. Little is understood of the cells that regulate CNS-TB, their respective functions, their cellular interactions, and contributions to the overall protection of the CNS. Most studies have focussed on microglia and macrophages as the preferential targeted antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by M. tuberculosis and neglected dendritic cells (DCs) to an extent because no consensus had been reached regarding the presence of DCs in a healthy CNS. Both myeloid (APCs) and T cells contribute to protection against CNS-TB. This study characterized the dendritic cell, microglial, macrophage, and T cell responses during mycobacterial infection of the CNS. We also investigated the modulation of T cells by DCs during CNS-TB. Metho…
author: Kgoadi, Khanyisile
keywords: Clinical Science and Immunology
date published: 2021
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:29Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35561