The Schlesinger lab is a multidisciplinary group of researchers that focus on human innate immunity to the disease tuberculosis (TB), which is a significant cause of death worldwide. TB is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). Our research investigates interactions between the bacteria and human macrophages, white blood cells whose tasks is to engulf and digest pathogens. Unfortunately, macrophages are not well equipped to kill M.tb, and host protective mechanisms are often hijacked by the bacteria to favor its own growth. We aim to understand basic macrophage biology that makes these immune cells susceptible to infection and are working to identify host-directed therapies to boost the immune response to better fight against TB. We have developed new models to aid in this critical research to study macrophage biology, cell signaling pathways, host heterogeneity, effects of the lung microenvironment and aging and to test novel drug combinations as host-directed therapies for TB
