Dr. Maziar Divangahi of McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center stated that there may be an opportunity to improve TB vaccination and treatment using existing drugs. He explained the process by which TB-causing bacteria enter the body through the oral cavity, and white blood cells or macrophages engulf and encapsulate, but are unable to kill the bacteria. The bacteria undergo a type of hibernation and propagate inside the engulfment until the macrophages can hold them no more. The macrophages break apart, allowing the spread of the infection in the body. Normally macrophages trap bacteria inside their cell membranes and the bacteria die slowly, but this does not work for TB bacteria. TB bacteria have a system called necrosis, which destroys cell membranes aiding the bacteria’s escape. Dr. Divangahi focused on exploring the use of elcosanoids. He noted that elcosanoids can work with or against macrophages in relation to TB bacteria. Analysis of human genes found that changes occurring in the presence of elcosanoids will either produce immunity or susceptibility to TB. Elcosanoid-producing drugs are available and are used in treating other inflammatory diseases. Dr. Divangahi predicted that the next steps will be to determine how these drugs can be used to treat TB.
News Fire, www.news-fire.com, July 30, 2010, by Robert Valenzuela
No comments:
Post a Comment