Whole genome sequencing of M.tuberculosis in Kazakhstan: preliminary data.

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem which infects one third of the world's population, resulting in more than two million deaths every year. The emergence of whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies as a primary research tool has allowed for the detection of genetic diversity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) with unprecedented resolution. WGS has been used to address a broad range of topics, including the dynamics of evolution, transmission, and treatment.