Spontaneous Latency in a Rabbit Model of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is an exquisitely adapted human pathogen capable of surviving for decades in the lungs of immune competent individuals in absence of disease. The World Health Organization estimates that 2 billion people have latent TB infection (LTBI), defined by positive immunologic response to Mtb antigens with no clinical signs of disease. A better understanding of host and pathogen determinants of LTBI and subsequent reactivation would benefit TB control efforts. Animal models of LTBI have been hampered mainly by an inability to achieve complete bacillary clearance. We have characterized a rabbit model of LTBI in which, similar to most humans, complete clearance of pulmonary Mtb infection and pathology occurs spontaneously.

ORGANISM(S): Oryctolagus cuniculus

SUBMITTER: Selvakumar Subbian 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-39219 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress