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Dr Elouise Kroon

Call Career Development Fellowship (CDF)
Programme EDCTP2
Start Date 2019-12-01
End Date 2022-11-30
Project Code TMA2018CDF-2353
Status Active

Title

Neutrophils as effector cells in resistance to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV-infected persons (NeutroTB)

Host Organisation

Institution Country
Stellenbosch University South Africa

Current Organisation

Stellenbosch University

Current Job Title

Research Medical Officer

Students Supervised

Type Name Title University Start Date End Date

Memberships

Role Committee/board Start Date End Date

Education

Institution Degree Year
Stellenbosch University, South Africa BComm Actuarial Science 2006-12-31
Stellenbosch University, South Africa MBChB 2012-12-31
Stellenbosch University, South Africa PhD 2021-12-31

Areas Of Specialisation

Tuberculosis (TB)

Grants

Publications

Phenotype Definition for "Resisters" to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in the Literature-A Review and Recommendations.
Authors:
Date:
2021-02-25
Journal:
Frontiers in immunology
Content:
Neutrophils: Innate Effectors of TB Resistance?
Authors:
Schurr E
Date:
2018-11-14
Journal:
Frontiers in immunology
Content:
An observational study identifying highly tuberculosis-exposed, HIV-1-positive but persistently TB, tuberculin and IGRA negative persons with M. tuberculosis specific antibodies in Cape Town, South Africa.
Authors:
Möller M
Date:
2020-10-07
Journal:
EBioMedicine
Content:
Altered neutrophil extracellular traps in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in persons living with HIV with no previous TB and negative TST and IGRA
Authors:
Eileen G Hoal
Date:
2023-04-19
Journal:
bioRxiv
Content:

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) have an increased risk for tuberculosis (TB). After prolonged and repeated exposure, some PLWH never develop TB and test persistently negative in tests of immune sensitization tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This group has been identified and defined as HIV+ persistently TB, tuberculin and IGRA negative (HITTIN). To investigate potential innate mechanisms unique to individuals with the HITTIN phenotype we compared their neutrophil Mtb infection response to that of PLWH, with no TB history, but who test persistently IGRA positive, and tuberculin positive (HIT). Neutrophil samples from 17 HITTIN (PMNHITTIN) and 11 HIT (PMNHIT) were isolated and infected with Mtb H37Rv for 1h and 6h. RNA was extracted and used for RNAseq analysis. At 1h of Mtb infection, PMNHITTIN displayed 151 significantly upregulated and 40 significantly downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and PMNHIT 98 significantly upregulated and 11 significantly downregulated DEGs. At the 6h timepoint, PMNHITTIN displayed 3106 significantly upregulated and 3548 significantly downregulated DEGs while PMNHIT had 3816 significantly up- and 3794 significantly downregulated DEGs. There was no significant differential transcriptional response at 1h between infected PMNHITTIN and PMNHIT. However, when contrasting the log2FC 6h infection response to Mtb from PMNHITTIN against PMNHIT, 2285 genes showed significant differential response between the two groups. Apoptosis and NETosis were key pathways linked to the enrichment of genes in PMNHITTIN when contrasted to PMNHIT after 6h infection with Mtb. Fluorescence microscopy revealed relatively lower neutrophil extracellular trap formation and cell loss in PMNHITTIN compared to PMNHIT, showing that PMNHITTIN have a distinct response to Mtb.

Genetic Resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Disease.
Authors:
Möller M , author
Kinnear CJ , author
Orlova M , author
Kroon EE , author
van Helden PD , author
Schurr E , author
Hoal EG , author
Date:
2018-09-01
Journal:
Frontiers in immunology
Content:

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