Association of CC-chemokine ligand-2 gene polymorphisms with leprosy reactions.

Background: C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, a gene that codes for a protein involved in inflammation. Certain SNPs in the CCL2 gene have been studied for their potential associations with susceptibility to various diseases. These SNPs may affect the production and function of the CCL2 protein, which is involved in the recruitment of immune cells to the site of inflammation.

In-vivo studies on Transitmycin, a potent Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitor.

This study involves the in-vitro and in-vivo anti-TB potency and in-vivo safety of Transitmycin (TR) (PubChem CID:90659753)- identified to be a novel secondary metabolite derived from Streptomyces sp (R2). TR was tested in-vitro against drug resistant TB clinical isolates (n = 49). 94% of DR-TB strains (n = 49) were inhibited by TR at 10μg ml-1.

Application of mobile phone technology as intervention for the management of tuberculosis patients diagnosed through community survey.

Background & Objectives: The delay in communicating the results to tuberculosis (TB) patients leads to increased rates of initial loss to follow up of treatment. The gap in communication among healthcare providers requires application of new tools that will address the challenges. Mobile phone technologies could be a useful tool in this context for the delivery of information.

Differential Frequencies of Intermediate Monocyte Subsets Among Individuals Infected With Drug-Sensitive or Drug-Resistant .

The rampant increase in drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) remains a major challenge not only for treatment management but also for diagnosis, as well as drug design and development. Drug-resistant mycobacteria affect the quality of life owing to the delayed diagnosis and require prolonged treatment with multiple and toxic drugs. The phenotypic modulations defining the immune status of an individual during tuberculosis are well established.

Whole-Genome Sequencing to Identify Missed Rifampicin and Isoniazid Resistance Among Tuberculosis Isolates-Chennai, India, 2013-2016.

India has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR TB) and many cases go undetected by current drug susceptibility tests (DSTs). This study was conducted to identify rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance associated genetic mutations undetected by current clinical diagnostics amongst persons with DR TB in Chennai, India. Retrospectively stored 166 DR TB isolates during 2013-2016 were retrieved and cultured in Löwenstein-Jensen medium.

Prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and associated risk factors: A community survey in Thirvallur District, south India.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys add to the active case detection in the community level burden of TB both national and regional levels. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the community.

Methods: Household community-based tuberculosis disease survey was conducted targeting 69054 population from 43 villages of 5 blocks in Tiruvallure district adopting cluster sampling methodology of ≥15 years old adult rural population of South India during 2015-2018.

Elevated Numbers of HIV-Specific Poly-Functional CD8 T Cells With Stem Cell-Like and Follicular Homing Phenotypes in HIV-Exposed Seronegative Individuals.

HIV-specific CD8 T cells are known to play a key role in viral control during acute and chronic HIV infection. Although many studies have demonstrated the importance of HIV-specific CD8 T cells in viral control, its correlation with protection against HIV infection remains incompletely understood. To better understand the nature of the immune response that contributes to the early control of HIV infection, we analyzed the phenotype, distribution and function of anti-viral CD8 T cells in a cohort of HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) women, and compared them with healthy controls and HIV-infected individuals.

Identification and differential expression of serotransferrin and apolipoprotein A-I in the plasma of HIV-1 patients treated with first-line antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Plasma proteins are known to interfere the drug metabolism during therapy. As limited information is available regarding the role of plasma proteins in HIV drug resistance during ART in HIV/AIDS patients, the present study aimed to identify and characterize the differentially expressed plasma proteins in the drug resistant and drug respondent groups of HIV-1 infected patients with > 6 years of first line ART.

Methods: Four-drug resistant (treatment failure) and four-drug respondent (treatment responder) patients were selected for plasma proteomic analysis based on viral load and drug resistance associated mutations from a cohort study designed on the first line ART patients who were enrolled in the antiretroviral therapy center, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, India from December 2009 to November 2016.

Spoligotype Diversity of over Two Decades from Tiruvallur, South India.

Geographically, most tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2018 were reported from India. This TB burden is compounded by MDR-TB and XDR-TB. The strategies for the management and control of TB in the community depend on an understanding of the mode of spread of the different strains of TB isolates in the community.

Vitamin D - A host directed autophagy mediated therapy for tuberculosis.

According to the WHO report 2019, Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease of humanity that is curable. TB has caused significant morbidity and mortality even in 2018. The etiological agent of TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) exploits its virulence factors to escape from host immunity and therapeutic drugs.

Evaluation of 'TBDetect' sputum microscopy kit for improved detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a multi-centric validation study.

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of the 'TBDetect' kit-based bio-safe fluorescent microscopy filter (BioFM-Filter) microscopy in comparison with direct smear microscopy and culture for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a multi-centric setting in India.

Methods: The TBDetect kit enables sputum concentration through filtration using the BioFM-Filter for improved and bio-safe smear microscopy. We evaluated the performance of the TBDetect kit in a six-site multi-centric validation study on sputum collected from 2086 presumptive TB patients.

Reprocessing of Contaminated MGIT 960 Cultures to Improve Availability of Valid Results for Mycobacteria.

Optimal recovery of mycobacteria from the contaminated liquid culture is a challenge. While alternative methods have been suggested to reduce the rate of contamination in the BACTEC MGIT 960 system, reprocessing the contaminated liquid culture improves recovery of . Among 793 MGIT cultures raised from as many sputum specimens after primary decontamination by the standard NaLC-NaOH method, valid results were available for 687 (86.

Protein-protein interaction of Rv0148 with Htdy and its predicted role towards drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis resides inside host macrophages during infection and adapts to resilient stresses generated by the host immune system. As a response, M. tuberculosis codes for short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs).

Genetic Characterization of Full-Length HIV-2 Long Terminal Repeat Sequences: Identification of Rare Promoter Variants.

In this study, we sequenced the full-length HIV type 2 (HIV-2) long terminal repeat region from the proviral DNA of 23 HIV-2-infected individuals from the southern parts of India. We identified two different promoter variant strains circulating in this region along with the globally circulating common promoter variant. Seven sequences had an additional nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) binding motif and the sequence from another subject showed one NF-κB and one RBE-III binding site.

Evaluation of antiviral T cell responses and TSCM cells in volunteers enrolled in a phase I HIV-1 subtype C prophylactic vaccine trial in India.

T cells play an important role in controlling viral replication during HIV infection. An effective vaccine should, therefore, lead to the induction of a strong and early viral-specific CD8+ T cell response. While polyfunctional T cell responses are thought to be important contributors to the antiviral response, there is evidence to show that polyfunctional HIV- specific CD8+ T cells are just a small fraction of the total HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and may be absent in many individuals who control HIV replication, suggesting that other HIV-1 specific CD8+ effector T cell subsets may be key players in HIV control.

Association of Tuberculosis With Household Catastrophic Expenditure in South India.

Importance: The high household costs associated with tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment can create barriers to access and adherence, highlighting the urgency of achieving the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy target that no TB-affected households should face catastrophic costs by 2020.

Objective: To estimate the occurrence of catastrophic costs associated with TB diagnosis and treatment and to identify socioeconomic indicators associated with catastrophic costs in a setting where TB control strategies have been implemented effectively.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this cross-sectional study, 455 patients with TB in the Chennai metropolitan area of South India who were treated under the TB control program between February 2017 and March 2018 were interviewed.

4-month moxifloxacin containing regimens in the treatment of patients with sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in South India - a randomised clinical trial.

Background: Shortening tuberculosis (TB) treatment duration is a research priority. We tested the efficacy and safety of 3- and 4-month regimens containing moxifloxacin in a randomised clinical trial in pulmonary TB (PTB) patients in South India.

Methods: New, sputum-positive, adult, HIV-negative, non-diabetic PTB patients were randomised to 3- or 4-month moxifloxacin regimens [moxifloxacin (M), isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R), pyrazinamide (Z) and ethambutol (E)] or to a control regimen (2H R Z E /4R H ) [C].

Catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in South India: comparison between active and passive case finding.

Background: To measure and compare economic burden at the household level for tuberculosis (TB) patients who were detected through active case finding (ACF) and passive case finding (PCF) in rural areas.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Thiruvallur district from October 2016 to March 2018. TB patients diagnosed through ACF were included in this study.

Validation of bedaquiline drug-susceptibility testing by BACTEC MGIT 960 system for .

Background: Bedaquiline (BDQ) is a new antituberculosis (TB) drug effectively used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB. However, the reports on drug-susceptibility testing (DST) for BDQ are scarce. The study aimed to validate and standardize BDQ DST by BACTEC MGIT 960 system for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of a Strain Isolated from Cattle in Chennai, India.

Here, we report the isolation of from dairy cattle in Chennai, India. Spoligotyping assigned the isolate to spoligotype 587 (ST587), which belongs to This species was confirmed as using whole-genome sequencing.