AUTHOR=Stefan Kirsten , Gordon Ryan , Rolig Annah , Honkala Alexander , Tailor Dhanir , Davis Lara E. , Modi Rajiv I. , Joshipura Manjul , Khamar Bakulesh , Malhotra Sanjay V. 

TITLE=Mycobacterium w - a promising immunotherapeutic intervention for diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1450118

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2024.1450118

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Immunomodulating agents interact with the immune system and alter the outcome of specific immune processes. As our understanding of the immune system continues to evolve, there is a growing effort to identify agents with immunomodulating applications to use therapeutically to treat various diseases. <italic>Mycobacterium w</italic> (Mw), a heat-killed mycobacterium, is an atypical mycobacterial species that possesses strong immunomodulatory properties. Mw was initially evaluated as an immune-therapeutic against leprosy, but since then Mw has generated a lot of interest and been studied for therapeutic applications across a host of diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous pericarditis, sepsis, lung cancer, and more. This article summarizes a large body of work published in the past five decades, describing various aspects of Mw and its potential for further therapeutic development.</p>