Structural and functional studies of M. tuberculosis type VII secretion
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Investigator: Oren Rosenberg, MD, PhD
Sponsor: NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease
Location(s): United States
Description
Tuberculosis is a global problem leading to over 1.7 million deaths each year. The proposed work is relevant to determining how the bacteria that cause tuberculosis are able to establish and maintain infection in a human host. Understanding this process at an atomic level will help us to design targeted therapies and vaccines.
Through a series of specific aims that use a combined structural, biochemical and genetic approach, Dr. Rosenberg will examine the role of essential components in the type VII secretion system, which is known to be critical for the virulence of Mtb. The goal is to understand mycobacterial infection better so as to aid in the design of faster, cheaper, less toxic and more effective ways to prevent and treat tuberculosis.