The thymus as a target for mycobacterial infections

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

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

Journal

Title: Microbes and Infection

Vol. 9

Pages: 1521-1529

ISSN: 1286-4579

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citations

Scopus - 30 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Immunology

Other information

Authenticus ID: 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.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9