Article
Microbiology
Galina S. S. Shepelkova, Vladimir V. V. Evstifeev, Ruslan V. V. Tarasov, Anush E. E. Ergeshova, Mamed A. A. Bagirov, Vladimir V. V. Yeremeev
Summary: This study focuses on finding biomarkers that can characterize the disease course in surgical tuberculosis patients. They examined a number of serum microRNAs as potential biomarkers for inflammation and fibrosis in tuberculosis, and used quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and receiver operating curves to verify the data. The study identified several microRNAs that showed differential expression between different groups of patients, and further research is needed to validate these findings on a larger population.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Caryn M. Upton, Chanel Steele, Gary Maartens, Andreas H. Diacon, Lubbe Wiesner, Kelly E. Dooley
Summary: This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of bedaquiline and its metabolite M2 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with pulmonary TB. The findings suggest that both bedaquiline and M2 can freely penetrate into the CSF of patients with pulmonary TB, with concentrations similar to the estimated unbound fractions in plasma. Clinical studies are urgently needed to determine the potential contribution of bedaquiline in the treatment of CNS TB.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Santhuri Rambaran, Kogieleum Naidoo, Lara Lewis, Razia Hassan-Moosa, Dhineshree Govender, Natasha Samsunder, Thomas J. Scriba, Nesri Padayatchi, Aida Sivro
Summary: Inflammatory markers measured during active tuberculosis are associated with treatment response and disease severity. Certain cytokines and chemokines play important roles in tuberculosis outcomes, with these associations being stronger in multivariable models.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Saima Bashir, Sandra Kik, Morten Ruhwald, Amir Khan, Muhammad Tariq, Hamidah Hussain, Claudia M. Denkinger
Summary: This study analyzed the cost of implementing computer-aided detection (CAD) software for detecting tuberculosis (TB) from chest X-ray images. The findings suggest that using CAD software could enable large-scale screening programs in high TB-burden countries and be less costly than relying solely on radiologists.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qiong Yao, Qin-hua Zhou, Quan-li Shen, Xiao-chuan Wang, Xi-hong Hu
Summary: This study assessed the imaging of pulmonary BCG/TB infection in CGD patients. The researchers found that pulmonary BCG infection was more common than TB in CGD patients, but less severe.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Masafumi Shimoda, Takashi Yoshiyama, Masao Okumura, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Kozo Morimoto, Hiroyuki Kokutou, Takeshi Osawa, Koji Furuuchi, Keiji Fujiwara, Koki Ito, Kozo Yoshimori, Ken Ohta
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed 147 hospitalized adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and studied the characteristics of patients with persistent severe inflammation. It was found that the presence of a large cavity on chest computed tomography (CT) and a high CRP level on admission were risk factors for persistent severe inflammation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masuma Khawary, Saurabh Pandey, Omprakash Sharma, Raunak Raunak, Manish Sharma, Ruchi Malik, Deeksha Tripathi
Summary: This study developed a computational model for M.tb Trigger Factor and identified two potential inhibitors, which could be significant for the development of novel therapies against tuberculosis.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Carly A. Bobak, Maresa Botha, Lesley Workman, Jane E. Hill, Mark P. Nicol, John W. Holloway, Dan J. Stein, Leonardo Martinez, Heather J. Zar
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between gene expression in umbilical cord blood and the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease in early life. Gene expression signatures were identified that were predictive of TB conversion and progression to TB disease in children with early infection. Coexpression network analysis revealed modules associated with neutrophil activation and defense responses to bacteria. These findings provide novel insights into TB pathogenesis and susceptibility.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Jyoti S. Mathad, Artur T. L. Queiroz, Ramesh Bhosale, Mallika Alexander, Shilpa Naik, Vandana Kulkarni, Bruno B. Andrade, Amita Gupta
Summary: A new diagnostic cartridge assay for tuberculosis was found to be ineffective in diagnosing maternal TB disease in India. However, in a cohort of pregnant women, researchers identified a novel gene set for TB diagnosis and another set for predicting disease progression.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Ye Li, Bing Wang, Limin Wen, Hengxing Li, Fang He, Jian Wu, Shan Gao, Dailun Hou
Summary: This study aimed to develop a radiomics model for predicting multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in patients with cavitary TB. The results showed that the radiomics model had higher predictive accuracy than the clinical model and had comparable performance to the combined model. This suggests that the radiomics model has the potential to be an auxiliary diagnostic tool.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vannesa Yue May Teng, Yan Ting Chua, Eunice En Ni Lai, Shilpa Mukherjee, Jessica Michaels, Chen Seong Wong, Liang Shen, Yee Sin Leo, Barnaby Young, Sophia Archuleta, Catherine W. M. Ong
Summary: The study found that screening for latent TB infection is low among HIV-TB co-infected patients in Singapore, and initiation of ART treatment may be delayed for some patients. It was also noted that pulmonary TB patients with HIV can still be infectious despite showing a normal chest x-ray.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Michael Nel, Zoe Franckling-Smith, Tanyia Pillay, Savvas Andronikou, Heather J. Zar
Summary: Diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis in children is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining suitable specimens and limitations of current diagnostic methods. Chest imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment response monitoring, but traditional chest radiographs are often nonspecific with high inter- and intra-observer variability. Other diagnostic imaging modalities can provide additional information to support diagnosis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zirwatul Adilah Aziz, Noorliza Mohamad Noordin, Wan Mazlina Wan Mohd, Mohd Amin Kasim
Summary: Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infection (TBI) are crucial for tuberculosis elimination. A new digital lateral flow assay, QIAreach QuantiFERON-TB (QIAreach QFT), showed high agreement with QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) assay in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and overall agreement. QIAreach QFT could serve as an accurate and reliable point-of-need test for TB infection diagnosis, especially in decentralized settings with limited laboratory expertise and infrastructure.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary Ann D. Lansang, Marissa M. Alejandria, Irwin Law, Noel R. Juban, Maria Lourdes E. Amarillo, Olivia T. Sison, Jose Rene B. Cruz, Concepcion F. Ang, Joseph Adrian L. Buensalido, Johanna Patricia A. Canal, Nina T. Castillo-Carandang, Cynthia P. Cordero, Donna Mae G. Gaviola, Mary Ann J. Ladia, Jacinto Blas V. Mantaring, Myrna T. Mendoza, Maria Sonia S. Salamat, Hilton Y. Lam, Marina Tadolini, Anna Marie Celina G. Garfin
Summary: The 3rd national tuberculosis survey in the Philippines in 2007 showed a significant decline in TB prevalence, leading to increased investments for TB control. However, a survey conducted in 2016 found that the TB burden in the Philippines was higher than estimated from routine surveillance data, with no evidence of a decline in smear and culture positive TB cases despite significant investments in TB control. New strategies for case-finding and patient-centered care need to be intensified and expanded.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ester Lilian Acen, Irene Andia Biraro, Mudarshiru Bbuye, David Patrick Kateete, Moses L. Joloba, William Worodria
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the association between vitamin D deficiency and TB status among patients with active TB, latent TB infection (LTBI) and those without TB infection. The study found that the vitamin D levels of active TB patients were significantly lower compared to individuals with LTBI and those without TB infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shabir A. Madhi, Gaurav Kwatra, Simone Richardson, Anthonet L. Koen, Vicky Baillie, Clare L. Cutland, Lee Fairlie, Sherman D. Padayachee, Keertan Dheda, Shaun L. Barnabas, Qasim Ebrahim Bhorat, Carmen Briner, Khatija Ahmed, Parvinder K. Aley, Sutika Bhikha, A. E. Bhorat, Aliasgar Esmail, Elizea Horne, Haajira Kaldine, Christian K. Mukendi, Vimbai Sharon Madzorera, Nelia P. Manamela, Mduduzi Masilela, S. Tandile Hermanus, Thopisang Motlou, Nonkululeko Mzindle, Suzette Oelofse, Faeezah Patel, Sarah Rhead, Lindie Rossouw, Carol Taoushanis, Samuel van Eck, Teresa Lambe, Sarah C. Gilbert, Andrew J. Pollard, Penny L. Moore, Alane Izu
Summary: A study in Africa found that SARS-CoV-2 infection before vaccination with the AZD1222 vaccine can enhance antibody responses for up to 180 days. This has important implications for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Africa.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rubeshan Perumal, Kogieleum Naidoo, Anushka Naidoo, Marothi P. Letsoalo, Aliasgar Esmail, Ivan Joubert, Paolo Denti, Lubbe Wiesner, Nesri Padayatchi, Gary Maartens, Keertan Dheda
Summary: This study investigates the pharmacokinetics of rifampicin and the impact of continuous enteral feeding on drug absorption in critically ill patients with tuberculosis. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) with dose escalation is found to be an effective strategy to achieve target drug exposure in these patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Gunavanthi D. Boorgula, Sanjay Singh, Prem Shankar, Tawanda Gumbo, Scott K. Heysell, Shashikant Srivastava
Summary: This study found that the recommended dose of isoniazid for the treatment of Mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary disease may be insufficient. Higher doses of isoniazid in combination with other drugs showed better clinical efficacy in an experimental model.
Article
Ophthalmology
Taraprasad Das, Shalem Raj Padakandla, Sisinthy Shivaji, Rajagopalaboopathi Jayasudha, Brijesh Takkar
Summary: This study compared the microbiome in the aqueous humour and gut of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR). It was found that there are differences in the microbiome of the eye and gut regardless of disease or health. The intraocular microbiome showed more distinct features compared to the gut, but further confirmation is needed with larger studies.
OPHTHALMOLOGY AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gregory L. Calligaro, Nevadna Singh, Timothy C. Pennel, Rachelle Steyn, Anita Brink, Aliasgar Esmail, Lynelle Mottay, Suzette Oelofse, Barbara L. Mastrapa, Wisdom Basera, Kathryn Manning, Chima Ofoegbu, Anthony Linegar, Keertan Dheda
Summary: This study investigated the treatment outcomes of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients who underwent surgery, and found that surgical intervention combined with chemotherapy led to better treatment success. However, pre-operative PET-CT did not predict treatment outcomes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tawanda Gumbo, Shashikant Srivastava, Devyani Deshpande, Jotam G. Pasipanodya, Alexander Berg, Klaus Romero, David Hermann, Debra Hanna
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of different drug combinations on Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the hollow-fibre system model (HFS-TB). The results showed that HFS-TB is a highly tractable tool for choosing combination regimens with little variability between teams, and between replicates.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Jose Dominguez, Martin J. Boeree, Emmanuelle Cambau, Dumitru Chesov, Francesca Conradie, Vivian Cox, Keertan Dheda, Andrii Dudnyk, Maha R. Farhat, Sebastien Gagneux, Martin P. Grobusch, Matthias Groeschel, Lorenzo Guglielmetti, Irina Kontsevaya, Berit Lange, Frank van Leth, Christian Lienhardt, Anna M. Mandalakas, Florian P. Maurer, Matthias Merker, Paolo Miotto, Barbara Molina-Moya, Florence Morel, Stefan Niemann, Nicolas Veziris, Andrew Whitelaw, Charles R. Horsburgh Jr, Christoph Lange
Summary: Drug-resistant tuberculosis is a global concern and molecular methods provide rapid information on mutations associated with anti-tuberculosis drug resistance. This consensus document, developed by TBnet and RESIST-TB networks, establishes reporting standards for the clinical use of molecular drug susceptibility testing. The panel identified studies linking M tuberculosis mutations with treatment outcomes, and highlights the importance of implementing molecular testing for drug resistance prediction.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aliasgar Esmail, Philippa Randall, Suzette Oelofse, Michele Tomasicchio, Anil Pooran, Richard Meldau, Edson Makambwa, Lynelle Mottay, Shameem Jaumdally, Gregory Calligaro, Stuart Meier, Marianna de Kock, Tawanda Gumbo, Robin Mark Warren, Keertan Dheda
Summary: Two in every five patients with active tuberculosis (TB) remain undiagnosed or unreported, highlighting the need for urgent implementation of community-based active case-finding strategies. Through an open-label, randomized controlled trial in periurban informal settlements of Cape Town, South Africa, it was found that portable, battery-operated molecular diagnostic tools can shorten time-to-treatment initiation compared to conventional POC smear microscopy, potentially curtailing transmission.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elize Pietersen, Kim Anderson, Helen Cox, Keertan Dheda, Aihua Bian, Bryan E. Shepherd, Timothy R. Sterling, Robin M. Warren, Yuri F. van der Heijden
Summary: This study found that incomplete treatment with certain anti-TB drugs, such as second-line injectables and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), was more common than with other drugs in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The reasons for discontinuation varied, with adverse events being the main cause for discontinuation of second-line injectables and patient refusal for discontinuation of PAS.
Article
Immunology
Anthonet L. Koen, Alane Izu, Vicky Baillie, Gaurav Kwatra, Clare L. Cutland, Lee Fairlie, Sherman D. Padayachee, Keertan Dheda, Shaun L. Barnabas, Qasim Ebrahim Bhorat, Carmen Briner, Khatija Ahmed, Sutika Bhikha, Jinal N. Bhiman, Jeanine du Plessis, Aliasgar Esmail, Elizea Horne, Shi-Hsia Hwa, Aylin Oommen-Jose, Teresa Lambe, Matt Laubscher, Mookho Malahleha, Gabriella Benade, Shakeel McKenzie, Suzette Oelofse, Faeezah Patel, Sureshnee Pillay, Sarah Rhead, Hylton Rodel, Carol Taoushanis, Houriiyah Tegally, Asha Thombrayil, Tonya L. Villafana, Sarah Gilbert, Andrew J. Pollard, Shabir A. Madhi
Summary: The final analysis of the COV005 study in South African adults showed that the efficacy of the AZD1222 vaccine varied against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. The vaccine had high efficacy against the wild type virus, but lower efficacy against the Beta and Delta variants. Safety was consistent with previous findings.
Article
Biology
Jini Sugatha, Amulya Priya, Prateek Raj, Ebsy Jaimon, Uma Swaminathan, Anju Jose, Thomas John Pucadyil, Sunando Datta, Felix Campelo
Summary: SNX32 interacts with SNX4 via its BAR domain and with TfR, CIMPR, and BSG through its PX domain, regulating cargo sorting and trafficking processes. Silencing of SNX32 leads to defects in intracellular trafficking and neuronal differentiation, suggesting its crucial role in maintaining neuroglial coordination.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sanjay Singh, Jann-Yuan Wang, Scott K. Heysell, Pamela J. McShane, Carly Wadle, Prem Shankar, Hung-Ling Huang, Jotam Pasipanodya, Gunavanthi D. Boorgula, Julie V. Philley, Tawanda Gumbo, Shashikant Srivastava
Summary: Based on experimental and retrospective clinical studies, it was found that a daily dose of 300 mg of omadacycline achieved good efficacy and had minimal toxicity in the treatment of pulmonary Mab disease. This finding provides a scientific basis for the clinical use of omadacycline.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Shashikant Srivastava, Tawanda Gumbo
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sanjay Singh, Tawanda Gumbo, Jan-Willem Alffenaar, Gunavanthi D. Boorgula, Prem Shankar, Tania A. Thomas, Keertan Dheda, Lesibana Malinga, Prithvi Raj, Santosh Aryal, Shashikant Srivastava
Summary: By testing and studying, it was found that the combination of meropenem with beta-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) could potentially be an effective treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The meropenem-vaborbactam-moxifloxacin backbone regimen has implications for creating a new effective MDR-TB regimen.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Shashikant Srivastava, Tawanda Gumbo