Successfully engineered Immune cell model way for new treatments amongst immunocompromised children

Researcher Dr Shicheng Jacky Sun said the immune cell type the team created in the lab, known as a macrophage, played an important role in infection, inflammation and regeneration. But due to this function was also a natural host for germs. Murdoch Children's researcher Dr Shicheng Jacky Sun said the immune cell type the team created in the lab, known as a macrophage, played an important role in infection, inflammation and regeneration. But due to this function was also a natural host for germs.

Dr Sohinee Sarkar said due to high treatment failure rates, repeated cycles of infection could greatly damage the lung tissue and accelerate progression of lung failure in those with cystic fibrosis."Improved treatments could mean less frequent hospital visits, shorter stays and minimal exposure to toxic antibiotics, which is particularly important for children with cystic fibrosis," she said.

Data shows 11 per cent of children with cystic fibrosis test positive for mycobacteria. Dr Sarkar said the infection model could also be used for drug screening for other superbugs with limited treatment options.

Ref: Shicheng Sun, Michael See, Hieu T. Nim, Kathleen Strumila, Elizabeth Ng, Alejandro Hidalgo, Mirana Ramialison, Philip Sutton, Andrew G. Elefanty, Sohinee Sarkar and Edouard G. Stanley. 'Human pluripotent stem cell-derived macrophages host Mycobacterium abscessus infection,' Stem Cell Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.07.013