INVITADA: Dra. Luciana Balboa, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Facultad de Medicina, UBA-CONICET.
TÍTULO: “Insights from Immunometabolism in Tuberculosis“
FECHA: Lunes 28 de abril, 12:00 h.
LUGAR: Sala de Seminarios del IBioBA-CONICET-MPSP. Godoy Cruz 2390, C1425FQD, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains the leading cause of infectious mortality worldwide. Although our immune system is equipped with specialized cells, such as M1 macrophages, to combat infections, M. tuberculosis has evolved various strategies to subvert their functions. Additionally, M. tuberculosis inhibits the adaptive immune response typically initiated by dendritic cells (DCs).
Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of cellular metabolism in shaping the effector functions of immune cells. Our research team is dedicated to unraveling the immunometabolic pathways that are crucial for controlling TB. In this talk, I will present our findings on how the microenvironment associated with TB, specifically within tuberculous pleural effusions, impairs the glycolytic and microbicidal activities of M1 macrophages, primarily through the action of omega-3-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Furthermore, I will show that although glycolysis plays an essential role in facilitating the migration of M. tuberculosis-exposed DCs to lymph nodes, this critical process is impaired in DCs from TB patients. In addition, I will discuss our strategies to enhance the metabolism of DCs with the goal of improving the efficacy of the current vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which is highly effective in protecting children from TB but is not sufficient to protect adults.
These approaches highlight the significance of metabolic pathways in the context of TB, paving the way for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies designed to enhance pathogen clearance and ultimately improve patient outcomes.