Immune polarization in childhood tuberculosis: the role of helminthic co-infection

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Marc Jacobsen
• Co-Applicants: Dr. Anne K. Detjen; Dr. Anneke C. Hesseling; Professor Gerhard Walzl, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2009 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 68912364

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a neglected global disease. Especially infants and young children have an extremely high risk of developing tuberculosis following exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) compared to adults. Childhood TB is characterized by distinct disease entities and increased disease severity. These differences and genetic susceptibility studies suggest that childhood TB is fundamentally different from adult disease. The aim of this project is to define the epidemiologic and immunologic characteristics of childhood TB, assuming that a phenomenon called immune polarization is a crucial factor in the development of immunity against TB. An influence of infections with parasitic helminths – which markedly polarize host immunity – has been shown. Consequently we will determine the influence of worm infection as well as deworming on the clinical presentation and severity of TB disease and combine this with in-depth analyses of the changes in the immune response using highly sophisticated immunologic and molecular biologic approaches. This collaborative project between clinicians and basic scientists from South Africa and Germany aims to build capacity, transfer technology and foster mutual exchange of young researchers to improve knowledge in the field of childhood TB and helminth infection.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: South Africa
• Participating Persons: Professorin Dr. Nulda Beyers; Professor Dr. Robert Gie; Professor Dr. Stefan H.E. Kaufmann; Dr. Klaus Magdorf (†)