DormantMycobacterium tuberculosisreactivatesex vivoin blood from HIV infected individuals

Abstract

AbstractReports of tuberculosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected patients despite high CD4+T-cell counts suggest different mechanisms of reactivation.In vitrodeveloped dormantMycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv were cultured in HIV blood and normal blood. Colony forming units analysis was performed and expression of mycobacterial Resuscitation Promomoting Factor genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR. Thein vitrodeveloped dormantM. tbresuscitated in HIV blood as evident from increase in CFUs and up-regulation in the expression of mycobacterialrpfgenes. Reactivation of dormant tubercle bacilli following HIV infection in spite of high CD4+T-cell counts could be due to some viral or host factors which needs further studies.