TB studied in 3D to learn how it develops

Southampton researchers are building understanding of tuberculosis (TB) by studying it in droplets – much like frogspawn.

A new study, announced today (24 March) on World TB Day, centres on a 3D system developed in Southampton over the last decade.

Unlike the laboratory-standard 2D culture system, where cells are placed in a flat plastic dish, the 3D system uses an engineering technique to suspend them in droplets. Researchers are then able to better observe changes that occur in cells infected with TB.

In the new study, Dr Liku Tezera will advance the system further with researchers from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. They will develop new imaging and sequencing approaches to analyse TB progression.

Global TB epidemic

“TB is a lung infection that has killed more humans than any other and until 2020 was the top infectious killer around the world,” Dr Tezera says. “Globally, an estimated 10 million people develop the disease each year.

“The insights we will gain from this new study are essential to informing new strategies for controlling this global epidemic and highlights the impact of bridging cell biology and engineering approaches to understand human disease.”

The research at the University of Southampton is funded by the Medical Research Council.

Dr Tezera is working with Professor Paul Elkington and Dr Marta Polak from the Faculty of Medicine and Hywel Morgan, Professor Bioelectronics in the School of Electronics and Computer Science.

Understanding TB processes

This latest study expands on important TB research from the team. Last year, the 3D cultural system helped shed new light on TB’s processes. It identified key genetic changes that cause damage in the lungs and a drug treatment that could speed up recovery.

In the study, the team found that the TB-infected cells in droplets responded very closely to cells in the lungs of patients with the disease. This observation has widespread implications for further studies into infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

In parallel, the group carried out complex sequencing techniques on the cells to identify the events through which TB causes excessive inflammation and damage to the lung.

World TB Day takes place on 24 March every year to highlight the impact of the disease. This year, the theme is ‘Invested to End TB. Save Lives’, seeking to reinforce global leaders' commitment to end TB.

Image: Dr Liku Tezera, Visiting Fellow at the University of Southampton.