MIT Genius Bryan Bryson Unveils Shocking TB Breakthrough That Could Save Millions—Are You Missing This?

Dr. Bryan Bryson, an associate professor at MIT, has focused his research on a critical question: How do immune cells kill bacteria? This inquiry is particularly relevant in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), a disease that has claimed countless lives throughout history. Since launching his lab in 2018, Bryson has pursued innovative strategies to understand how immune cells respond to TB, hoping to unlock new therapies and vaccines for this persistent global health threat.

“Here is a pathogen that has probably killed more people in human history than any other pathogen. You want to learn how to kill it,” Bryson states, emphasizing the urgency of his mission. Current treatments for TB remain insufficient, with the only available vaccine, the BCG vaccine, offering limited protection against pulmonary TB in adults. Despite existing treatments, TB is responsible for over a million deaths annually, highlighting the need for more effective preventative measures.

Bryson's approach to developing a better TB vaccine is rooted in measurement. “Making a better TB vaccine comes down to a question of measurement,” he explains. His lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard is committed to developing new measurement modalities to facilitate this goal, aiming to identify proteins produced by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium that could serve as targets for vaccine development.

Born into a family with a rich engineering background, Bryson's journey into science began in childhood. Growing up in a household that encouraged curiosity, he transitioned from building robots out of Styrofoam cups in Miami, Florida, to pursuing a rigorous education at MIT. Although initially uncertain about his major, he eventually shifted to mechanical engineering with a bioengineering track, which set the stage for his future work in biological engineering.

During his undergraduate years, Bryson's interest in infectious diseases was ignited through hands-on research in the lab of Professor Linda Griffith, where he worked on microfluidic devices for growing liver tissue. This experience not only sharpened his engineering skills but also fueled his desire to understand cellular behavior. After earning his PhD in biological engineering, Bryson further delved into TB research as a postdoctoral researcher under Professor Sarah Fortune at the Harvard School of Public Health.

In Fortune's lab, Bryson began to explore how Mycobacterium tuberculosis interacts with host cells. This experience was formative, teaching him the importance of thinking innovatively about the problems posed by TB. “What are the problems we really need to solve?” he reflects. “What’s going to change history?” This type of ambitious thinking is a hallmark of Bryson's work today.

Innovative Research and Future Directions

Since joining MIT’s faculty, Bryson and his students have made significant strides in identifying how immune cells can effectively recognize and combat TB. They have focused on proteins displayed on the surfaces of infected cells, narrowing down from the over 4,000 proteins produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis to a subset that could be pivotal for vaccine development. So far, Bryson's lab has identified numerous TB antigens linked to a specific group of proteins known as type 7 secretion system substrates, which could serve as excellent candidates for new vaccines.

Through their studies, Bryson's team has analyzed blood samples from people across various genetic backgrounds, successfully identifying TB proteins displayed by infected cells in about 50% of the population. “I believe once those studies are finished, we’ll have a very good idea of which proteins could be used to make a TB vaccine that would work for nearly everyone,” he asserts. This ambitious projection could revolutionize the way TB is treated and prevented, with plans to begin animal trials and eventually clinical trials in approximately six years.

Despite the formidable challenges ahead, Bryson remains optimistic about the future. He credits his mother, who raised four children on her own, for instilling a sense of resilience and optimism in him. “There are so many ways you can say something will fail, but why don’t we look to find the reasons to continue?” he says, reflecting on the encouraging environment he's found within the MIT community.

At MIT, Bryson has cultivated an atmosphere that echoes the engineering ethos—where challenges are seen as opportunities for innovation. He enjoys sharing these experiences with students, often bringing a lighter touch to the rigorous academic life by organizing ice cream study breaks, where he experiments with unique flavors like passion fruit and jalapeño strawberry.

As Bryson continues his vital work in understanding and combating tuberculosis, his blend of engineering principles and innovative research aims to create a better future for public health. The journey from the classroom to the lab is not just a personal success story; it represents a broader commitment to solving one of humanity's oldest health crises.