PhD defence
Learning from Mycobacterium Infections in Animals – Immunodiagnostics for Leprosy and Tuberculosis in Humans and Animals
- Z. Zhou
- Date
- Tuesday 16 September 2025
- Time
- Location
-
Academy Building
Rapenburg 73
2311 GJ Leiden
Supervisor(s)
Summary
Tuberculosis and leprosy are the most serious human mycobacterial infectious diseases worldwide. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) while the bacilli M. leprae and M. lepromatosis cause leprosy. Despite effective antibiotics, millions of new cases continue to be reported annually, especially in developing countries. Both types of bacteria are transmitted through the air, mostly between humans, but animals can also act as potential reservoirs. Their role in disease spread, however, remains poorly understood.
In this PhD-project, a “One Health” approach combined studies on human samples, animal models, and wildlife investigations. Host serum proteins indicate infection with tuberculosis or leprosy bacteria in humans and animals were identified and diagnostic tests in humans were adapted for animal such as armadillos, red squirrels, cattle, and nonhuman primates.
This study found that antibodies against the cell wall component phenolic glycolipd-I (PGL-I) of M. leprae in children are a reliable indicator of recent transmission in a population. Moreover, these antibodies were detected in armadillos at an early stage of M. leprae infection and revealed that red squirrels in northern UK still carry leprosy bacilli. In cattle, antibodies to M. bovis PGL allowed distinguishing M. bovis infected- from uninfected and vaccinated animals. Finally, in nonhuman primates, we applied rapid tests based on three host proteins to detect M. tuberculosis infection, monitor TB disease progression, and evaluate the effects of vaccination and treatment.
The findings in this thesis have improved ways to detect and control mycobacterial diseases help protect both human and animal health and enhance understanding of how these pathogens are spread.
PhD dissertations
Approximately one week after the defence, PhD dissertations by Leiden PhD students are available digitally through the Leiden Repository, that offers free access to these PhD dissertations. Please note that in some cases a dissertation may be under embargo temporarily and access to its full-text version will only be granted later.
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