The Smith Lab @ Duke MGM investigate the host-pathogen interactions that underlie tuberculosis infection. We leverage genetically diverse mice and macrophages in conjunction with bacterial clinical isolates and mutant libraries to discover the host-bacterial genetic interactions that define distinct tuberculosis disease states. Lab members are trained in high containment BSL3 procedures to safely conduct tuberculosis research within the Duke Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. We collaborate with our friendly hallway neighbors the Tobin Lab to translate our findings across species and clinical samples and share results in joint Tobin-Smith Lab meetings.
Check out our latest paper that discovers a role for Cathepsin Z in tuberculosis susceptibility! Congrats to Rachel, Oyinda and Marco as 1st authors and the whole team for their collaborative efforts in this paper that spans mice, macrophages and human cohorts.
Want to find the host condition to study your favorite M. tuberculosis mutant? Check out the MtbTnDB, an awesome resource for the community.
Check out new collaborative papers on spatial and transcriptional profiling of human granulomas from the Tobin Lab and new discoveries on host immunity across diverse mice from the Sassetti Lab. Great to be part of these awesome works!
