Ramakrishnan’s laboratory has studied the molecular pathogenesis of TB using the power of forward genetics in the zebrafish. They discovered that mutations in LTA4H, a key enzyme in the eicosanoid pathway that alters the levels of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), affect tuberculosis pathogenesis by regulating the inflammatory response. This work showed that a balance of TNF is required for good TB prognosis, and neither high nor low inflammation was favorable. Correspondingly, they showed that genetic variation in LTA4H in humans helps explain patterns of TB meningitis survival when patients were exposed to a treatment that suppresses the inflammatory response.
View the full talk with additional resources on our website
Tuberculosis Pathogenesis
Dr. Lalita Ramakrishnan gives an introduction to tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis, and gives an overview of Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ life cycle. (Talk recorded in January 2017)
- Part 1: An Introduction to Tuberculosis: The Pathogenic Personality of the Tubercle BacillusAudience:
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:34:44 - Part 2: The Troublesome Tubercle in TuberculosisAudience:
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:29:42 - Part 3: Tuberculosis as an Inflammatory DiseaseAudience:
- Student
- Researcher
- Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
- Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad
Duration: 00:32:27