Spring/Summer 2012 Aesculapian Magazine - University of Georgia ...

Growing challenges
Vaccination may be one of the only channels left to
combat drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, which are on
the rise. Overuse and incorrect use of anti-TB drugs have
led to drug resistance on every continent. “Once people
get over the night sweats and fever symptoms,” says Estes,
“they think they are cured and stop taking the drugs, and
that’s how you get drug-resistant strains.”
In addition to spreading drug resistance, high rates
of HIV in the developing world pose another unique
challenge. “The HIV connection changed the landscape of
TB control,” says Quinn. These dual epidemics cause major
problems in resource-poor countries and disadvantaged
populations — Russian prisoners and South African
miners, for example.
Infection with HIV raises the risk of reactivating
latent tuberculosis disease, and having both infections
together exacerbates the effects of both. Estes will focus
his studies on HIV and TB co-infection, and he is also
working on therapeutics for end-stage wasting in HIVpositive
patients.
Quinn and Estes are optimistic that UGA is on the
path to becoming a frontrunner in the race to control
tuberculosis, thanks to the Animal Health Research
Center and a dedicated, diverse group of researchers from
different disciplines around UGA’s campus.
“We’ve got everything here — the genetics expertise,
the immunological expertise, the vaccine development
expertise, the animal modeling expertise,” says Quinn.
“We’re the whole package.”
For More
InForMatIon
About the CVM’s department of
Infectious Diseases, visit:
www.vet.uga.edu/id
TB Facts*
Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s second
leading cause of death due to a single
infectious agent. (HIV/AIDS is first.)
At least one-third of the estimated 34
million people worldwide who are infected
with HIV are also infected with TB bacteria
but do not yet have active TB. These people
are 21 to 34 times more likely to develop
active TB disease.
Over 95% of TB deaths occur in developing
countries, and it is among the top three
causes of death for women aged 15 to 44.
In 2009, about 10 million children were
orphaned due to the death of their parents
from TB.
In 2010, about 500,000 children, ages 14 and
under, worldwide became ill with active TB.
Between 58,000 and 71,000 children died
from the disease.
People who are ill with active TB can infect
up to 15 other people through close contact
over the course of a year.
Drug-resistant strains of TB have been found
in every country surveyed by the World
Health Organization.
78 countries, including the United States,
reported at least 1 case of TB in 2011.
TB is treatable, curable and preventable.
TB Research at UGA
*Source: World Health Organization
Multiple TB-related research projects are
underway on the UGA campus, including at
least five within the UGA CVM Department of
Infectious Diseases.
The research ranges from development
of novel therapeutics, such as vaccines, to
development of new diagnostics.
Aesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 38