Genetically determined susceptibility to mycobacterial infection
Smita Y Patel 1, Rainer Doffinger 1, Gabriella Barcenas-Morales 2 and Dinakantha Kumararatne 3*
1 Addenbooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
2 Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico
3 Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, United Kingdom
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dsk22{at}cam.ac.uk.
Accepted 18 February 2008
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Abstract |
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This review will focus on patients with genetic defects predisposing to infections with poorly pathogenic mycobacteria [Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and environmental Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)] as well as Salmonella species. Mycobacteria and Salmonella are facultative intracellular pathogens capable of surviving and multiplying within mononuclear phagocytes. Host defense against these pathogens depends on the action of cell-mediated immunity (CMI), effected by interactions between T cells and macrophages. The principal effector mechanism responsible immunity against these pathogens is the activation of infected macrophages by type 1 cytokines, particularly interferon-
(IFN-) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-
)[1].
