Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and SARS-CoV-2 are both infections that can lead to severe disease in the lower lung. However, these two infections are caused by very different pathogens (Mycobacterium vs. virus), they have different mechanisms of pathogenesis and immune response, and differ in ho...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1250198/full |
| _version_ | 1797670904882266112 |
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| author | Anna Allué-Guardia Jordi B. Torrelles Jordi B. Torrelles Alex Sigal Alex Sigal Alex Sigal |
| author_facet | Anna Allué-Guardia Jordi B. Torrelles Jordi B. Torrelles Alex Sigal Alex Sigal Alex Sigal |
| author_sort | Anna Allué-Guardia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and SARS-CoV-2 are both infections that can lead to severe disease in the lower lung. However, these two infections are caused by very different pathogens (Mycobacterium vs. virus), they have different mechanisms of pathogenesis and immune response, and differ in how long the infection lasts. Despite the differences, SARS-CoV-2 and M.tb share a common feature, which is also frequently observed in other respiratory infections: the burden of disease in the elderly is greater. Here, we discuss possible reasons for the higher burden in older adults, including the effect of co-morbidities, deterioration of the lung environment, auto-immunity, and a reduced antibody response. While the answer is likely to be multifactorial, understanding the main drivers across different infections may allow us to design broader interventions that increase the health-span of older people. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:07:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2840172a9d3749db8212ea47ad3248aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:07:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2840172a9d3749db8212ea47ad3248aa2023-09-29T09:14:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242023-09-011410.3389/fimmu.2023.12501981250198Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of diseaseAnna Allué-Guardia0Jordi B. Torrelles1Jordi B. Torrelles2Alex Sigal3Alex Sigal4Alex Sigal5Population Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United StatesPopulation Health Program, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United StatesInternational Center for the Advancement of Research and Education (I•CARE), Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United StatesAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South AfricaCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South AfricaSchool of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaMycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and SARS-CoV-2 are both infections that can lead to severe disease in the lower lung. However, these two infections are caused by very different pathogens (Mycobacterium vs. virus), they have different mechanisms of pathogenesis and immune response, and differ in how long the infection lasts. Despite the differences, SARS-CoV-2 and M.tb share a common feature, which is also frequently observed in other respiratory infections: the burden of disease in the elderly is greater. Here, we discuss possible reasons for the higher burden in older adults, including the effect of co-morbidities, deterioration of the lung environment, auto-immunity, and a reduced antibody response. While the answer is likely to be multifactorial, understanding the main drivers across different infections may allow us to design broader interventions that increase the health-span of older people.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1250198/fullSARS-CoV-2Mycobacterium tuberculosisCOVID-19TBelderlyimmunity |
| spellingShingle | Anna Allué-Guardia Jordi B. Torrelles Jordi B. Torrelles Alex Sigal Alex Sigal Alex Sigal Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease Frontiers in Immunology SARS-CoV-2 Mycobacterium tuberculosis COVID-19 TB elderly immunity |
| title | Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease |
| title_full | Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease |
| title_fullStr | Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease |
| title_short | Tuberculosis and COVID-19 in the elderly: factors driving a higher burden of disease |
| title_sort | tuberculosis and covid 19 in the elderly factors driving a higher burden of disease |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Mycobacterium tuberculosis COVID-19 TB elderly immunity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1250198/full |
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