The zebrafish guide to tuberculosis immunity and treatment.

During the past 12 years, we have developed the zebrafish as a model for the study of tuberculosis pathogenesis and immunology. We have taken advantage of the optical transparency and the genetic and pharmacological tractability of the developing zebrafish to monitor infection in real time. Detailed information about the sequential interactions among the host and the pathogen, the cell types, and the molecules involved has yielded surprising insights into this ancient disease. We have identified a number of host evasion strategies deployed by pathogenic mycobacteria as well as host responses that provide broad insights into host immunity. Many of these discoveries have relevance to human tuberculosis and suggest new therapeutic avenues for tuberculosis as well as other inflammatory diseases.