Hiv Protein Tat Found To Increase Vulnerability To Tuberculosis

According to nan World Health Organization, tuberculosis accounts for 1 successful 3 deaths among group surviving pinch HIV. In fact, moreover erstwhile receiving effective antiretroviral treatment, HIV-positive individuals are 15 to 30 times much apt to statement tuberculosis than HIV-uninfected people.

In a study to beryllium published successful PLOS Pathogens, nan CNRS-led investigation team highlights nan cardinal domiciled played by Tat – a viral macromolecule secreted by HIV-infected cells – successful this hyper-vulnerability phenomenon. Studies conducted connected quality cells and zebrafish larvae revealed that this macromolecule blocks nan compartment defence system known arsenic autophagy, thereby promoting nan endurance and multiplication of nan bacterium responsible for tuberculosis – Mycobacterium tuberculosis – successful target cells.

These findings shed caller ray connected nan synergy betwixt HIV and tuberculosis and pave nan measurement for nan improvement of innovative therapeutic strategies. Although nan Tat macromolecule remains difficult to target astatine present, treatments aimed astatine restoring nan autophagy system could beryllium developed to amended protect patients.

Source:

Journal reference:

Rivault, A., et al. (2025). HIV-1 Tat favors nan multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Toxoplasma by inhibiting clathrin-mediated endocytosis and autophagy. PLOS Pathogens. doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1013183