Selected Grantee Publications

Transiently Boosting Vγ9⁺Vδ2⁺ γδ T Cells Early in Mtb Coinfection of SIV-Infected Juvenile Macaques Does Not Improve Mtb Host Resistance

Larson et al., Infection and Immunity. 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39475292/

Children with HIV have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This study utilized juvenile Mauritian cynomolgus macaques to investigate whether enhancing Vγ9⁺Vδ2⁺ γδ T cells with zoledronate treatment could improve TB resistance in HIV–TB coinfection. Researchers found that although boosting these immune cells temporarily increased their presence, it did not enhance the macaques’ ability to fight Mtb infection. These findings suggest that solely targeting γδ T cells may not be an effective strategy for improving TB immunity in immunocompromised individuals. These insights are crucial for developing better treatments for HIV–TB coinfections. Supported by ORIP (K01OD033539, P51OD011106) and NIAID.