We are characterizing cross-species transmission between human and nonhuman primates using two mycobacterial diseases—tuberculosis and leprosy—as case studies. We hypothesize that our primate ancestors also shared mycobacteria within and between species, and that an understanding of the past and present interactions between primates (both human and nonhuman) and mycobacteria will provide baseline data to inform current and future public health, conservation and diagnostic/treatment efforts.
