SNF_TzExVivoGran - Human in vitro granulomas to dissect tuberculosis protective immune traits and assess drug candidates for tailored adjunct host-directed therapy

Taking advantage of a unique collection of human clinical specimens and our established in vitro granuloma model, we aim to gain important knowledge on some of the intrinsic differential immune traits that defines a protective response against MTB. We will demonstrate that in vitro granulomas constitute a relevant tool to study drug-targetable host immune pathways linked to clinical TB severity in a given epidemiological setting. These results will have an impact on the design and selection of host-directed therapy agents against TB. In addition, we will demonstrate that such interventions may require considering immune specificities at the individual level.

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