The study, led by TCD’s Specialist Registrar in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, PhD, focused on the protein Mal and how it impacts on responses to TB.
Dr. Cheallaigh and her colleagues showed for the first time that a specific form of Mal is involved in cell signaling in response to a master chemical — interferon gamma — in our immune response to illness.
“Having this different form of Mal affects how intensely you respond to interferon gamma — if you’ve one form you have a big response, if you have another form you have a dampened down response,” said Dr. Cheallaigh. “We’ve discovered a whole new function for this protein Mal.”
The study is significant because it means that patients with TB, especially those with difficult-to-treat cases, may be treated with more targeted therapies to their specific immune system.
More articles on TB:
Common TB test may be ineffective for pregnant, HIV-positive women
Johns Hopkins biophysicists work to strengthen existing TB drugs
Study reveals elephants transmitted TB to humans, CDC calls for improved screening
