Tom H. M. Ottenhoff

About

Tom H. M. Ottenhoff is a leading figure in tuberculosis (TB) immunology, whose research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of host-pathogen interactions. His work centers on deciphering the human immune response to *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, with a particular focus on identifying genetic and immunological determinants of disease progression. Ottenhoff pioneered the use of high-throughput screening to study TB, most notably in his highly cited 2011 study (126 citations), which addressed the critical bottleneck of whole-organism screening for TB progression. This work provided a powerful platform for identifying host and microbial factors driving the transition from latent infection to active disease. More recently, his research has expanded into comparative immunology, using zebrafish as a surrogate model. His 2024 studies demonstrated that *M. tuberculosis* and the fish pathogen *M. marinum* trigger a core set of late innate immune response genes, revealing evolutionarily conserved immune pathways. By bridging human immunology with powerful animal models, Ottenhoff’s contributions have provided crucial insights into TB pathogenesis and opened new avenues for vaccine and therapeutic development, cementing his reputation as a pioneer in the fight against one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A High-Throughput Screen for Tuberculosis Progression

   126 citations · 2011
2. 2
   The Human Pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the Fish Pathogen Mycobacterium marinum Trigger a Core Set of Late Innate Immune Response Genes in Zebrafish Larvae

   4 citations · 2024
3. 3
   The human pathogen <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> and the fish pathogen <i>Mycobacterium marinum</i> trigger the same core set of late innate immune response genes in zebrafish larvae

   2 citations · 2024

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links