The thymus as a target for mycobacterial infections

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2007

Autores

Claudia Nobrega (Autor) Outra; Pere Joan Cardona (Autor) Outra; Susana Roque (Autor) Outra; Perpetua Pinto do O (Autor) Outra; Rui Appelberg (Autor) ICBAS; Margarida Correia Neves (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Microbes and Infection

Vol. 9

Páginas: 1521-1529

ISSN: 1286-4579

Editora: Elsevier

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citações

Scopus - 30 Citações

Pubmed / Medline

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências médicas e da saúde > Medicina básica

CORDIS: Ciências da Saúde > Ciências Médicas > Medicina > Imunologia

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-004-6M3

DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2007.08.006

Abstract (EN): Mycobacterial infections are among the major health threats worldwide. Ability to fight these infections depends on the host's immune response, particularly on macrophages and T lymphocytes produced by the thymus. Using the mouse as a model, and two different routes of infection (aerogenic or intravenous), we show that the thymus is consistently colonized by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium or Mycobacterium bovis BCG. When compared to organs such as the liver and spleen, the bacterial load reaches a plateau at later time-points after infection. Moreover, in contrast with organs such as the spleen and the lung no granuloma were found in the thymus of mice infected with M. tuberculosis or M. avium. Since T cell differentiation depends, to a large extent, on the antigens encountered within the thymus, infection of this organ might alter the host's immune response to infection. Therefore, from now on, the thymus should be considered in studies addressing the immune response to mycobacterial infection.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 9