Article in PLoS

JANUARY

Recent findings from a team of researchers at the SU node in the field of "TB host genetics" have been described in a high profile article in PLoS Medicine (Public Library of Science: Medicine) in January 2006. The research indicated that healthy South Africans (without TB) may have a genetic make-up that partially protects them against tuberculosis. This became evident when they found that healthy participants have a different variation in the CD209 gene that encodes the DC-SIGN molecule, when compared to participants with TB. The DC-SIGN molecule acts as the major recognition site for M. tuberculosis when entering human dendritic cells in the lungs, which then alerts the immune system. The protective polymorphism in the CD209 gene could lead to higher DC-SIGN expression which has an important influence on the immune response to the pathogen.

The understanding of this gene-based natural protection that some South Africans portray against tuberculosis can assist researchers in the development of treatments for infectious diseases such as TB.

This major contribution to TB research was made possible through a collaboration with the Pasteur Institute in France. It enjoyed attention on the Science and Development Network (SciDev) and was discussed on a national radio station (SAfm)

Link to full article.