Host-pathogen relationship in retreated tuberculosis with major rifampicin resistance-conferring mutations.

Introduction: It is assumed that host defense systems eliminating the pathogen and regulating tissue damage make a strong impact on the outcome of tuberculosis (TB) disease and that these processes are affected by rifampicin (RIF) resistance-conferring mutations of (Mtb). However, the host responses to the pathogen harboring different mutations have not been studied comprehensively in clinical settings. We analyzed clinico-epidemiological factors and blood transcriptomic signatures associated with major mutations conferring RIF resistance in a cohort study.

Phenotypic and genotypic features of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineage 1 subgroup in central Vietnam.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has different features depending on different geographic areas. We collected Mtb strains from patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Using a whole genome sequencing platform, including genome assembly complemented by long-read-sequencing data, genomic characteristics were studied.

The Degree of Oxidation of Graphene Oxide.

We show that the degree of oxidation of graphene oxide (GO) can be obtained by using a combination of state-of-the-art ab initio computational modeling and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). We show that the shift of the XPS C1s peak relative to pristine graphene, ΔEC1s, can be described with high accuracy by ΔEC1s=A(cO-cl)2+E0, where c0 is the oxygen concentration, A=52.3 eV, cl=0.

Genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis spreading in Hanoi, Vietnam using conventional and whole genome sequencing methods.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, one of the 30 countries with a high tuberculosis (TB) burden. Fundamental data on the molecular epidemiology of the disease is required for future TB management. To identify lineages and genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), conventional genotyping data from clinical isolates of the Hanoi area was compared with whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis from 332 of 470 samples.

Whole genome sequencing, analyses of drug resistance-conferring mutations, and correlation with transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis carrying katG-S315T in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a serious global problem, and pathogen factors involved in the transmission of isoniazid (INH)-resistant TB have not been fully investigated. We performed whole genome sequencing of 332 clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) isolates collected from patients newly diagnosed with smear-positive pulmonary TB in Hanoi, Vietnam. Using a bacterial genome-wide approach based on linear mixed models, we investigated the associations between 31-bp k-mers and clustered strains harboring katG-S315T, a major INH-resistance mutation in the present cohort and in the second panel previously published in South Africa.

Spoligotyping and whole-genome sequencing analysis of lineage 1 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Background: Spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping), a widely used, classical genotyping method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), is a PCR-based dot-blot hybridization technique to detect the genetic diversity of the direct repeat (DR) region. Of the seven major MTBC lineages in the world, lineage 1 (Indo-Oceanic) mostly corresponds to the East African-Indian (EAI) spoligotype family in East Africa and Southeast Asia.

Objectives: We investigated the genomic features of Vietnamese lineage 1 strains, comparing spoligotype patterns using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data.

Complete Genome Sequences of Three Representative Beijing Family Strains Belonging to Distinct Genotype Clusters in Hanoi, Vietnam, during 2007 to 2009.

We present here three complete genome sequences of Beijing family strains isolated in Hanoi, Vietnam. These three strains were selected from major genotypic clusters (15-MIRU-VNTR) identified in a previous population-based study. We emphasize their importance and potential as reference strains in this Asian region.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Strain Belonging to the East African-Indian Family in the Indo-Oceanic Lineage, Isolated in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The East African-Indian (EAI) family of is an endemic group mainly observed in Southeast Asia. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of an strain isolated as a member of the EAI family in Hanoi, Vietnam, a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis.

Circulating granulysin levels in healthcare workers and latent tuberculosis infection estimated using interferon-gamma release assays.

Background: Granulysin (GNLY) is produced by human lymphocyte subpopulations and exhibits antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We examined the association between GNLY levels in blood and latent tuberculosis (TB) infection.

Methods: Latency of TB infection among Vietnamese healthcare workers was estimated using interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA), and serum GNLY concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Dynamics of immune parameters during the treatment of active tuberculosis showing negative interferon gamma response at the time of diagnosis.

Objectives: In the performance of interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection, false-negative results are a major obstacle. In active TB patients, treatment-dependent changes of the negative test results remain unknown.

Methods: The treatment course of 19 smear-positive/culture-confirmed TB patients who had IGRA-negative results by QuantiFERON-TB in-tube (QFT-IT) method at the time of diagnosis (month 0) in a previous study, were monitored in the present study.

Association between tuberculosis recurrence and interferon-γ response during treatment.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between tuberculosis recurrence and Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) responses during treatment.

Methods: Plasma IFN-γ levels in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n = 407) were analyzed using QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube™ (QFT-IT) at 0, 2, and 7 months of the 8-month treatment received from 2007 to 2009 and the patients were followed up for another 16 months after treatment. Risk factors for recurrence were assessed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models.

Age-dependent association of mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms with the development of pulmonary tuberculosis in Viet Nam.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) binds to pathogens and induces complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis. Although the association between MBL2 polymorphisms and tuberculosis (TB) has been studied in various populations, the results are controversial. We explored the stages of TB associated with MBL2 polymorphisms.

Clonal expansion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and coexisting drug resistance in patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Background: Newly diagnosed patients without anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment histories have not often undergone drug susceptibility testing (DST), but have received the standard treatment regimen without information about their DST profiles in many countries with inadequate resources.

Methods: We collected 346 clinical isolates from previously untreated patients with smear-positive active TB in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Of these, 339 were tested for susceptibility to four first-line anti-TB drugs, including isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), streptomycin (SM), and ethambutol (EMB), using the proportion method.

Primary drug-resistant tuberculosis in Hanoi, Viet Nam: present status and risk factors.

Introduction: Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs presents a serious challenge to TB control worldwide. We investigated the status of drug resistance, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB, and possible risk factors among newly diagnosed TB patients in Hanoi, the capital of Viet Nam.

Methods: Clinical and epidemiological information was collected from 506 newly diagnosed patients with sputum smear- and culture-positive TB, and 489 (96.

Circulating levels of adiponectin, leptin, fetuin-A and retinol-binding protein in patients with tuberculosis: markers of metabolism and inflammation.

Background: Wasting is known as a prominent feature of tuberculosis (TB). To monitor the disease state, markers of metabolism and inflammation are potentially useful. We thus analyzed two major adipokines, adiponectin and leptin, and two other metabolic markers, fetuin-A and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4).

Analysis of factors lowering sensitivity of interferon-γ release assay for tuberculosis.

Background: Imperfect sensitivity of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) is a potential problem to detect tuberculosis. We made a thorough investigation of the factors that can lead to false negativity of IGRA.

Methods: We recruited 543 patients with new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

Association of CD209 polymorphisms with tuberculosis in an Indonesian population.

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Thus far, many candidate genes have been investigated for their possible association with TB. Dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) encoded by CD209 is the major receptor of M tuberculosis on human dendritic cells.

Identification of tuberculosis-associated proteins in whole blood supernatant.

Background: Biological parameters are useful tools for understanding and monitoring complicated disease processes. In this study, we attempted to identify proteins associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) using a proteomic approach.

Methods: To assess TB-associated changes in the composition of human proteins, whole blood supernatants were collected from patients with active TB and healthy control subjects.

Prevalence and risk factors for tuberculosis infection among hospital workers in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

Background: Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) to health care workers (HCWs) is a global issue. Although effective infection control measures are expected to reduce nosocomial TB, HCWs' infection has not been assessed enough in TB high burden countries. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of TB infection and its risk factors among HCWs in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

Association of human leukocyte antigen class II alleles with severe acute respiratory syndrome in the Vietnamese population.

Excessive immune response is believed to play a role in the development of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Inhomogeneous spread of SARS led one to think of an Asian genetic predisposition and contribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) to the disease susceptibility. However, past case-control studies showed inconsistent results.