A mathematical model of the initial interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and macrophages

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• 作者：Elsje Pienaar ; Maria Lerm
• 关键词：TB ; Tuberculosis ; Mtb ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; TST ; tuberculin skin test ; IGRA ; IFN-纬 release assay ; RNS ; reactive nitrogen species ; ROS ; reactive oxygen species ; ESAT-6 ; 6  ; kDa early secreted antigenic target.
• 刊名：Journal of Theoretical Biology
• 出版年：7 February, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：342
• 期：Complete
• 页码：23-32
• 全文大小：1863 K

文摘

There is a large body of literature describing molecular level interactions between Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and macrophages. Macrophages initiate a range of anti-bacterial mechanisms in response to infection, and Mtb is capable of surviving and circumventing many of these responses. We apply a computational approach to ask: what are the effects on the cellular level of these opposing interactions? The model considers the interplay between bacterial killing and the pathogen's interference with macrophage function. The results reveal an oscillating balance between host and pathogen, but the balance is transient and varies in length, indicating that stochasticity in the bacterial population or host response could contribute to the diverse incubation periods observed in exposed individuals. The model captures host and strain variation and gives new insight into host-pathogen compatibility and co-evolution.