Sub-cellular localization of transition metals within macrophages infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), results in more than 1 million deaths annually. Our lab discovered that macrophages, immune cells that engulf the pathogen during infection, combat Mtb by raising toxic metal ion concentrations (e.g., Cu, Zn) within its vacuole. We propose to use nanobeam scanning-XRF mapping at the ID16B beamline to examine the presence, concentration, and intracellular distribution of transition metal ions (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd) in infected macrophages. This project aims to deepen our understanding of how the immune system eradicates pathogens and could lead to new therapeutic strategies for TB.