The Many Hosts of Mycobacteria 8 (MHM8): A conference report

Abstract

Mycobacteria are important causes of disease in human and animal hosts. Diseases caused by mycobacteria include leprosy, tuberculosis (TB), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections and Buruli Ulcer. To better understand and treat mycobacterial disease, clinicians, veterinarians and scientists use a range of discipline-specific approaches to conduct basic and applied research, including conducting epidemiological surveys, patient studies, wildlife sampling, animal models, genetic studies and computational simulations. To foster the exchange of knowledge and collaboration across disciplines, the Many Hosts of Mycobacteria (MHM) conference series brings together clinical, veterinary and basic scientists who are dedicated to advancing mycobacterial disease research. Started in 2007, the MHM series recently held its 8th conference at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). Here, we review the diseases discussed at MHM8 and summarize the presentations on research advances in leprosy, NTM and Buruli Ulcer, human and animal TB, mycobacterial disease comorbidities, mycobacterial genetics and ‘omics, and animal models. A mouse models workshop, which was held immediately after MHM8, is also summarized. In addition to being a resource for those who were unable to attend MHM8, we anticipate this review will provide a benchmark to gauge the progress of future research concerning mycobacteria and their many hosts.

Introduction

The 8th Many Hosts of Mycobacteria (MHM) conference was held at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (EINSTEIN) in Bronx, NY, March 4–6, 2019, for the purpose of identifying gaps in our collective knowledge of mycobacteria biology, mycobacteria-host interactions, mycobacterial disease surveillance and treatment. The Mycobacteria genus consists of ~200 bacterial species, a number of which cause significant diseases in numerous hosts (Fig. 1). The hosts of mycobacteria include humans and animals that are directly affected by the spectrum of infections caused by these pathogens, ranging from latent and asymptomatic to active and disease. Furthermore, lower eukaryotes are potential environmental reservoirs (e.g. amoeba, aquatic insects), higher eukaryotes facilitate zoonotic transmission (e.g. armadillo, deer), and inanimate materials are potential fomites or biofilm substrates (e.g. bronchoscopes, shower heads).

Since 2007, the MHM series has brought together basic, clinical and veterinary scientists with a shared interest in mycobacterial disease research. The workshop is held approximately every other year in a location of historical significance to those in this field. Previous MHM meetings have resulted in new collaborations, as well as a book that was authored by many of the meeting attendees [1]. The 2019 location (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY) is significant to the field for its long history and reputation for making seminal advances in the fields of mycobacterial genetics, pathogenesis, and immunity. Participants in this year's conference were from eight different countries and represented universities, government agencies, academic medical centers, agricultural centers, zoos, and wildlife parks. Remarkably, and perhaps reflecting the worldwide distribution of pathogenic mycobacteria, the themes and challenges that were discussed at MHM8 were anything but country-specific.