TB Research Group
at the University of Pittsburgh
Center for Vaccine Research
We are a group of 6 labs that study the immunology of tuberculosis and associated infections. We collaborate with each other, other labs at the University of Pittsburgh, and experts across the country and around the world to answer key questions about the world's leading infectious killer. Our work focuses on immune mechanisms, vaccines, and medical imaging.
Pairing serial PET CT scans and genetically barcoded strains of Mtb provides unique insight into disease dynamics and progression
Microscopy of involved tissues reveals spatial distribution of cell types, cytokines, and transcription factors
Caylin's paper was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine journal! Check it out here!
Pairing serial PET CT scans and genetically barcoded strains of Mtb provides unique insight into disease dynamics and progression
Why TB?
Tuberculosis (TB) remains the most deadly infectious disease worldwide and kills ~2 million people per year. It is estimated that 1/3 of the world's population is latently or sub-clinically infected by M. tuberculosis, and 10% of infected persons will develop active disease. This silent pandemic disproportionately affects LMIC as a result of ineffective vaccines and expensive, lengthy treatment regimens. Co-infection with HIV worsens outcomes, and TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.
Our research encompasses translational studies on drugs, vaccines, and immune modulation of these diseases.
Our Expertise:
Disease progression
We track infection dynamics over time, offering unique insight into the processes behind Mtb infection
HIV co-infection
HIV and TB synergistically devastate the immune system. We use SIV to study how these two infections interact.
Vaccination platforms
We are able to use various disease models to study key mechanisms of vaccine-induced protection.
PET/CT imaging
Serial PET/CT imaging throughout infections gives spatial and temporal data about structural and inflammatory processes.
Drug regimens
With antimicrobial resistance on the rise, there is an urgent need to study new compounds and combinations, and understand their impact on infection dynamics
Join Our Group!
We are actively recruiting postdocs, graduate students, and staff!
Prospective graduate students should ask about the Program in Microbiology and Immunology (PMI).
Staff needs include: laboratory technicians, medical imaging analysis, data science and management.
Reach out to:
JoAnne Flynn - joanne@pitt.edu
Chuck Scanga - scangaca@pitt.edu
Ling Lin - philana.lin@chp.edu
Josh Mattila - jmattila@pitt.edu
Patty Grace - patricia.grace@pitt.edu
Protection against reinfection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis extends across heterologous Mtb lineages
Mechanisms of Protection, NHP model of Mtb Infection, TB Disease
Related to:
Andrew W Simonson, Michael C Chao, Luke E Hood, Rachel A Donlan, Forrest Hopkins, Michael R Chase, Andrew J Vickers, Alanna Callendrello, Edwin Klein, HJacob Borish, Marshall Malin, Pauline Maiello, Charles A Scanga, Philana Ling Lin, Sarah M Fortune, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
November 2, 2025
Mucosal Immunology
CD4+ T cells re-wire granuloma cellularity and regulatory networks to promote immunomodulation following Mtb reinfection
Mechanisms of Protection, T cell Dynamics in TB
Related to:
Joshua D Bromley*, Sharie Keanne C Ganchua*, Sarah K Nyquist, Pauline Maiello, Michael Chao, H Jacob Borish, Mark Rodgers, Jaime Tomko, Kara Kracinovsky, Douaa Mugahid, Son Nguyen, Qianchang Dennis Wang, Jacob M Rosenberg, Edwin C Klein, Hannah P Gideon, Roisin Floyd-O’Sullivan, Bonnie Berger, Charles A Scanga, Philana Ling Lin, Sarah M Fortune, Alex K Shalek, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
October 8, 2024
Immunity
A BCG kill switch strain protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice and non-human primates with improved safety and immunogenicity
Mechanisms of Protection, TB Vaccines
Related to:
Alexander A Smith*, Hongwei Su*, Joshua Wallach*, Yao Liu, Pauline Maiello, H Jacob Borish, Caylin Winchell, Andrew W Simonson, Philana Ling Lin, Mark Rodgers, Daniel Fillmore, Jennifer Sakal, Kan Lin, Valerie Vinette, Dirk Schnappinger, Sabine Ehrt, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
January 10, 2025
Nature Microbiology
Intravenous BCG-mediated protection against tuberculosis requires CD4+ T cells and CD8α+ lymphocytes
Mechanisms of Protection, T cell Dynamics in TB, TB Vaccines
Related to:
Andrew W Simonson*, Joseph J Zeppa*, Allison N Bucsan*, Michael C Chao, Supriya Pokkali, Forrest Hopkins, Michael R Chase, Andrew J Vickers, Matthew S Sutton, Caylin G Winchell, Amy J Myers, Cassaundra L Ameel, Ryan J Kelly, Ben Krouse, Luke E Hood, Jiaxiang Li, Chelsea C Lehman, Megha Kamath, Jaime Tomko, Mark A Rodgers, Rachel Donlan, Harris Chishti, H Jacob Borish, Edwin Klein, Charles A Scanga, Sarah M Fortune, Philana Ling Lin, Pauline Maiello, Mario Roederer, Patricia A Darrah, Robert A Seder, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
February 6, 2025
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Transiently boosting Vγ9+ Vδ2+ γδ T cells early in Mtb coinfection of SIV-infected juvenile macaques does not improve Mtb host resistance
Mechanisms of Protection, SIV Co-infection, T cell Dynamics in TB
Related to:
Erica C Larson, Amy L Ellis, Mark A Rodgers, Abigail K Gubernat, Janelle L Gleim, Ryan V Moriarty, Alexis J Balgeman, Yonne T de Menezes, Cassaundra L Ameel, Daniel J Fillmore, Skyler M Pergalske, Jennifer A Juno, Pauline Maiello, Harris B Chishti, Philana Ling Lin, Dale I Godfrey, Stephen J Kent, Daniel G Pellicci, Lishomwa C Ndhlovu, Shelby L O'Connor, Charles A Scanga
Published on
December 10, 2024
Infection and Immunity
CD8+ lymphocytes are critical for early control of tuberculosis in macaques
T cell Dynamics in TB
Related to:
Caylin G Winchell, Sarah K Nyquist, Michael C Chao, Pauline Maiello, Amy J Myers, Forrest Hopkins, Michael Chase, Hannah P Gideon, Kush V Patel, Joshua D Bromley, Andrew W Simonson, Roisin Floyd-O’Sullivan, Marc Wadsworth, Jacob M Rosenberg, Rockib Uddin, Travis Hughes, Ryan J Kelly, Josephine Griffo, Jaime Tomko, Edwin Klein, Bonnie Berger, Charles A Scanga, Joshua Mattila, Sarah M Fortune, Alex K Shalek, Philana Ling Lin, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
October 16, 2023
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Intravenous Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination protects simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques from tuberculosis
SIV Co-infection, TB Vaccines
Related to:
Erica C Larson, Amy L Ellis-Connell, Mark A Rodgers, Abigail K Gubernat, Janelle L Gleim, Ryan V Moriarty, Alexis J Balgeman, Cassaundra L Ameel, Solomon Jauro, Jaime A Tomko, Kara B Kracinovsky, Pauline Maiello, H Jake Borish, Alexander G White, Edwin Klein, Allison N Bucsan, Patricia A Darrah, Robert A Seder, Mario Roederer, Philana Ling Lin, JoAnne L Flynn, Shelby L O’Connor, Charles A Scanga
Published on
October 9, 2023
Nature Microbiology
Antibiotic treatment modestly reduces protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis reinfection in macaques
Drug Treatment, Mechanisms of Protection
Related to:
Sharie Keanne Ganchua, Pauline Maiello, Michael Chao, Forrest Hopkins, Douaa Mugahid, Philana Ling Lin, Sarah M Fortune, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
April 9, 2024
Infection and Immunity
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific CD4 T Cells Expressing Transcription Factors T-Bet or RORγT Associate with Bacterial Control in Granulomas
Mechanisms of Protection, T cell Dynamics in TB
Related to:
Nicole L Grant, Kristen Kelly, Pauline Maiello, Helena Abbott, Shelby O'Connor, Philana Ling Lin, Charles A Scanga, JoAnne L Flynn
Published on
April 11, 2023
mBio
Characterizing the Spectrum of Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Cynomolgus Macaque Model: Clinical, Immunologic, and Imaging Features of Evolution
NHP model of Mtb Infection
Related to:
Jessica Marie Medrano, Pauline Maiello, Tara Rutledge, Jaime Tomko, Mark A Rodgers, Daniel Fillmore, L James Frye, Christopher Janssen, Edwin Klein, JoAnne L Flynn, Philana Ling Lin
Published on
February 14, 2023
Journal of Infectious Diseases