RT Dissertation/Thesis
T1 Candidate immunological and transcriptional biomarkers for the different stages of Tuberculosis infection
T2 Biomarcadores inmunológicos y transcriptómicos candidatos para la identificación de distintas etapas de la Tuberculosis
A1 Estévez Martínez, Olivia
K1 2412 Inmunología
K1 3201.03 Microbiología Clínica
K1 2410.07 Genética Humana
AB Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). It is estimated that one third of the world population is infected with Mtb, either without the presence of symptoms, which is known as latent infection (LTBI, Latent Tuberculosis Infection) or developing active disease, mainly in lung tissue. The latent state is characterized by the presence of Mtb within the host without causing symptoms, although maintaining their viability with the potential to replicate and cause active disease TB. These individuals are considered as a reservoir of mycobacteria and may revert to active TB, thus transmiting the infection to other healthy subjects.Two tests are performed routinely for the diagnosis of TB. The first one is the tuberculin skin test (TST) in which skin induration is measured after 48-72 hours of injection with 2-10 units of purified protein derivative (PPD) or tuberculin. The second test is called  IGRA, from Interferon Gamma Release Assay test, based on the specific release of gamma interferon (IFNg) against Mtb antigens. However, none of these tests can differentiate between active and latent disease, nor be used to predict the risk of developing active TB in the future.The aim of this project is the study of the immunological and gene expression profile in order to find a differential pattern of expression between patients with active TB and patients with LTBI. These differences could be used as a biomarker to distinguish between the two stages of the disease and help early diagnosis of TB infection.Those individuals who, despite having a high degree of contact with a sick person (healthy contacts), do not develop the disease, are also to be studied. From the study of these patients we could determine whether they are developing a different immune response from that of infected individuals, and if it is conferring them protection against Mtb. If any differences are found, these could be the key for the design and development of a new therapeutic tools.
YR 2019
FD 2019-07-22
LK http://hdl.handle.net/11093/1305
UL http://hdl.handle.net/11093/1305
LA eng
DS Investigo
RD 28-nov-2023