Hyejeong Hong, PhD

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), infects over 10 million people each year worldwide. Death rates are higher in people with HIV, especially in resource-limited areas. Even after treatment, TB survivors often suffer permanent lung damage, causing breathing problems and increasing the risk of death. Current treatments kill the bacteria but do not protect lung health, highlighting the need for better approaches that also protect lung health. We will study two proteins, BMP6 and TGF-ß, which influence how immune cells fight Mtb bacteria and how tissues repair themselves. BMP6 may enhance the immune system’s response, particularly in people without HIV, while TGF-ß, elevated in people with HIV, could weaken immunity and worsen lung damage. By analyzing immune cells and genetic data from TB patients in South Africa and Uganda, we hope to find ways to strengthen immunity, protect lung health, and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, especially those with HIV.

Update: This project studies two proteins, BMP6 and TGF-β, that may help control how the immune system fights the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB) and how the lungs recover after infection. During this funding period, we developed new laboratory models using human immune cells called macrophages. Early findings suggest that BMP6 helps regulate immune responses involved in recognizing infection and controlling inflammation. We are also developing advanced gene-editing tools, including CRISPR, to better understand how BMP6 and TGF-β affect the immune response to TB. The project has also expanded to combine genetic, immune and molecular data from people with TB to identify biological pathways associated with more severe disease and long-term lung damage after TB treatment. Ultimately, this research may help identify new biological markers and treatment targets to improve recovery and protect lung health after TB.