Drug-resistant tuberculosis viewed from bacterial and host genomes.

The outcome of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is largely influenced by the host-pathogen interaction in which both the human host and the MTB genetic backgrounds play an important role. Whether this interaction also influences the selection and expansion of drug-resistant MTB strains is the primary focus of this review. We first outline the main and recent findings regarding MTB determinants implicated in the development of drug resistance.

Mycobacterium abscessus multispacer sequence typing.

Background: Mycobacterium abscessus group includes antibiotic-resistant, opportunistic mycobacteria that are responsible for sporadic cases and outbreaks of cutaneous, pulmonary and disseminated infections. However, because of their close genetic relationships, accurate discrimination between the various strains of these mycobacteria remains difficult. In this report, we describe the development of a multispacer sequence typing (MST) analysis for the simultaneous identification and typing of M.

Pyrosequencing assay for rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex species.

Background: Identification of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms to the species level is important for diagnostic, therapeutic and epidemiologic perspectives. Indeed, isolates are routinely identified as belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex without further discrimination in agreement with the high genomic similarity of the M.

Contribution of the P2X7 1513A/C loss-of-function polymorphism to extrapulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility in Tunisian populations.

The P2X7 receptor has been found to be linked to an increased risk for tuberculosis in some populations. In this study, we investigate whether the P2X7 receptor plays a role in increasing susceptibility to tuberculosis in Tunisia. We examined two 1513A/C and -762T/C polymorphisms at the P2X7 receptor in 168 patients with pulmonary TB (pTB), 55 patients with extrapulmonary TB (epTB) and 150 blood donors from Tunisia.

Polymorphisms in the RANTES gene increase susceptibility to active tuberculosis in Tunisia.

RANTES plays a pivotal role in attracting and activating various leukocyte populations that control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The present study investigated the relationship between the RANTES polymorphisms (-28C/G; rs2280788, and -403G/A; rs2107538) and susceptibility to active tuberculosis (TB) in Tunisian populations. A total of 168 patients with pulmonary TB (pTB), 55 with extrapulmonary TB (epTB), and 150 control subjects were studied.

Evaluation of an immunochromatographic assay for rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical isolates.

Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) remains slow. Over the years, several new technologies have been proposed to accelerate and simplify the detection of MTC. In this context, we evaluated an immunochromatographic assay (ICA) (BIO-LINE SD Ag MPT64 TB) for rapid identification of MTC, based on detection of a specific MPT64 antigen of MTC.

Interferon gamma +874T/A polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to active pulmonary tuberculosis development in Tunisian patients.

Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is a key cytokine involved mainly in the defense against intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Given its key role in the control of tuberculosis (TB), in the present article we have investigated a possible association between IFN-γ gene single-nucleotide polymorphism linked to high and low producer phenotypes (IFN-γ [+874T(high) → A(low)]) (rs2430561) and risk development of active TB in Tunisian patients. Genomic DNA samples were obtained from 223 patients with active TB (168 pulmonary and 55 extrapulmonary cases) and 150 healthy blood donors.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of measuring IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to mycobacterial A60 antigen in active tuberculosis.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of detection of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM antibodies raised against the mycobacterial A60 antigen for the diagnosis and discrimination of active tuberculosis (TB) from other pulmonary diseases. Three commercially available ELISA kits (IgA, IgG, and IgM) (ANDA Biologicals, Strasbourg, France) were evaluated simultaneously in 246 serum samples from 3 groups of patients: group I, 171 patients with active TB (128 pulmonary TB and 43 extrapulmonary TB); group II, 73 patients with pulmonary non-TB diseases; and group III, 2 leprosies patients. The sensitivities of tests ranged from 31.

Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum by Patho-TB kit in comparison with direct microscopy and culture.

The usefulness of a new rapid diagnostic test (Patho-TB) using antibodies specific to mycobacterial antigens was evaluated for the rapid discrimination between pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and non-TB pulmonary diseases on sputa. One hundred sputa collected from 79 active TB patients and from 21 patients with non-TB pulmonary diseases (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were enrolled into the study and tested for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Ziehl-Neelsen smear, Patho-TB kit, and Löwenstein-Jensen culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Patho-TB test were 95%, 100%, 100%, and 84%, respectively.