We are hoping that our research may help in finding a promising target to reduce inflammation in TB patients” say Sheetal Gandotra (left) and Neetika Jaisinghani.

Institute of Genomic and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, researchers have for the first time discovered that necrosis in granulomas result in the development of lipid-rich foamy macrophages, thus overthrowing the general belief that TB bacteria make the host cells accumulate lipids. They also report for the first time that foamy macrophages show more inflammatory response than normal macrophages. So targeting the tissue-damaging effects of inflammation may be helpful in TB patients.