Seattle BioMed discovers new knowledge about immune response to tuberculosis

As the world raises awareness of the global tuberculosis burden on World TB Day — March 24, 2012 — Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (Seattle BioMed) is celebrating an important discovery that could direct new strategies for TB vaccine development. Known as “the world’s most successful disease,” TB remains the second deadliest infectious disease, killing more than one million people annually. However, by studying the basic biology of M tuberculosis (the bacteria that causes TB disease), as well as its interaction with the immune system, Seattle BioMed researchers have grasped an important piece of new information about TB’s ability to manipulate immune response.