A link between the microbiota and the severity of tuberculosis

The natural pre-colonization of the mouse digestive track by Helicobacter hepaticus and the modification of the intestinal microbiota appear to prevent the immune system from effectively controlling infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for pulmonary tuberculosis. This discovery was made recently by scientists from Institut Pasteur, who used a mouse model to investigate co-infection by mycobacteria and helicobacter.

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