Human ULK1 Variation and Susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unlike tuberculosis, few studies have evaluated a host genetic basis for variability in susceptibility to latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI). We performed a candidate gene association study of autophagy-related genes and LTBI.

Methods

We enrolled close contacts of individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis, assessed LTBI status, and determined clinical and sociodemographic risk factors for LTBI. In participants who self-identified as Asian or black, we compared haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ULK1 and GABARAP between cases (n = 143) and controls (n = 106). Using CRISPR/Cas9 in U937 monocytes, we investigated the effect of ULK1 deficiency on cytokine expression, autophagy, and M. tuberculosis replication.

Results

In A

SUBMITTER: Horne DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5034956 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature