Linking Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis and cAMP Pathways in Macrophage Responses to Tuberculosis

M. tuberculosis, which causes the worldwide global health problem tuberculosis (TB), is transmitted human to human via the airborne route into lung alveoli and ultimately exploits and grows in host macrophages. We seek to understand the cell signaling pathways initiated by infection of human macrophages with M. tuberculosis that lead to disease. Increased understanding of how macrophages are susceptible to M. tuberculosis is expected to aid in the development of host-directed therapies for TB.