Grundner, Christoph

Despite being the world’s most prevalent pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is still a puzzle. The Grundner lab is working towards a better understanding of MTB virulence by studying secreted MTB virulence factors. Lab members determine their functions to learn about immunity and infection, with the ultimate goal of translating these findings into better therapies for tuberculosis.Infections are characterized by complex interactions between host and pathogen. In the case of tuberculosis, the immune system and MTB strike a fine balance that allows MTB to survive in a latent state for many years without being cleared from the host. The Grundner lab studies factors through which MTB mutes the immune response, learning about both bacterial pathogenesis and the human immune system in the process.