A set of 10 signaling proteins found in the microbe that causes tuberculosis [TB], play a far larger role in regulating the bacterium’s growth, development and behavior than previously thought, according to recent research. The study was led by UW School of Medicine and Seattle Children’s researchers..
TB remains a deadly disease that kills more than 1.6 million people worldwide a year. Drugs are available to treat TB, but they are difficult to take. Patients often need a handful of pills a day for many months. In addition, multi-drug resistant strains that are essentially untreatable are a growing threat. It has become increasingly important to develop new treatments.
“Our findings address a fundamental question about biology but because these are very ‘drugable’ proteins, the findings may help find drugs that can treat the permanent pandemic of TB.” said Christoph Grundner, principal investigator at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s Center for Global Infectious Disease Research and an associate professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine, who oversaw the research project.
