UT Southwestern: Antibodies Block Bacteria That Cause TB, Study Shows

9 February 2026

UT Southwestern press release

Certain antibodies inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a study found. Published in Cell Reports, the study identified characteristics of these antibodies and revealed insights that may lead to clinical tools that help prevent TB and other diseases.

In the study, researchers found that antibodies in TB patients targeting two specific Mtb proteins known to be critical for disease development, ESAT-6 and CFP-10, have the ability to fight off Mtb. Rather than directly neutralizing to prevent initial entry and infection, these antibodies activate immune cells called macrophages – an important target for infection by Mtb in the body – to block replication once the bacteria are inside.

Read the full press release here.

Source: UT Southwestern