Indian scientists from JNU and AIIMS have found that the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis can be bolstered with curcumin nano-particles, the active ingredient of turmeric. This opens new avenues for tackling TB and the novel method is ready for clinical trials.
Crux of the Matter
Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), which was discovered in 1921, is the world’s only vaccine for Tuberculosis.
Gobardhan Das, the primary investigator of the study said, “We’ve found that the TB bacteria hijack the genetic machinery of mesenchymal stem cells and hide within tiny lipid droplets inside the stem cells, safe from the immune system and safe from antibiotics during anti-TB treatment.”
Tuberculosis bacteria currently persists in the human body for years. The study implies that adding immuno-suppressant medicine to current anti-TB treatment can help eliminate the bacteria altogether.
The breakthrough research is expected to open avenues for therapeutic methods to deal with doemant TB bacteria.
Curiopedia
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections do not have symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kills about half of those affected. The classic symptoms of active TB are a chronic cough with blood-containing mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. It was historically called “consumption” due to the weight loss. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms. Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze. People with latent TB do not spread the disease. More Info
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