Host Biosignatures for TB control

The objectives of the project are to a) identify transcriptional correlates of risk that predict the progression from infection to active TB in Indian cohorts; b) identify transcriptional correlates of infection protection that predict protection from infection or the establishment of latent TB infection; c) identify host biomarkers that predict treatment outcome in adult TB patients: d) assess and validate host transcriptional biosignatures of diagnostic utility for paediatric TB in a prospective cohort study and d) strengthen capacity relevant to TB-biomarker research at the appropriate participating institutions 

Recent publications:

• Improving Assignments for Therapeutic and Prophylactic Treatment Within TB Households. A Potential for Immuno-Diagnosis? Sivakumaran D, Jenum S, Ritz C, Vaz M, Doherty TM, Grewal HMS.Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 17;13:801616. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.801616.

• A 2-Dose AERAS-402 Regimen Boosts CD8⁺ Polyfunctionality in HIV-Negative, BCG-Vaccinated Recipients. Sivakumaran D, Blatner G, Bakken R, Hokey D, Ritz C, Jenum S, Grewal HMS.Front Immunol. 2021 Jun 11;12:673532. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.673532

• Combining host-derived biomarkers with patient characteristics improves signature performance in predicting tuberculosis treatment outcomes. Sivakumaran D, Jenum S, Vaz M, Selvam S, Ottenhoff THM, Haks MC, Malherbe ST, Doherty TM, Ritz C, Grewal HMS.Commun Biol. 2020 Jul 9;3(1):359. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-1087-x

• Host Blood RNA Transcript and Protein Signatures for Sputum-Independent Diagnostics of Tuberculosis in Adults. Sivakumaran D, Ritz C, Gjøen JE, Vaz M, Selvam S, Ottenhoff THM, Doherty TM, Jenum S, Grewal HMS.Front Immunol. 2021 Feb 4;11:626049. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.626049

• Identification of subclinical tuberculosis in household contacts using exposure scores and contact investigations. Bekken GK, Ritz C, Selvam S, Jesuraj N, Hesseling AC, Doherty TM, Grewal HMS, Vaz M, Jenum S.BMC Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 31;20(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-4800-y

• The Magnitude of Interferon Gamma Release Assay Responses in Children With Household Tuberculosis Contact Is Associated With Tuberculosis Exposure and Disease Status. Ronge L, Sloot R, Du Preez K, Kay AW, Kirchner HL, Grewal HMS, Mandalakas AM, Hesseling AC.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021 Aug 1;40(8):763-770. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003196.PMID: 

• Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as measured by the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay and ESAT-6 free IGRA among adolescents in Mwanza, Tanzania. Jeremiah K, Lyimo E, Ritz C, PrayGod G, Rutkowski KT, Korsholm KS, Ruhwald M, Tait D, Grewal HMS, Faurholt-Jepsen D.PLoS One. 2021 Jun 7;16(6):e0252808. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252808. eCollection 2021.PMID: 

• Incidence of tuberculosis and the influence of surveillance strategy on tuberculosis case-finding and all-cause mortality: a cluster randomised trial in Indian neonates vaccinated with BCG. Jenum S, Selvam S, Jesuraj N, Ritz C, Hesseling AC, Cardenas V, Lau E, Doherty TM, Grewal HMS, Vaz M.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2018 Oct 9;5(1):e000304. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2018-000304. eCollection 2018.

• Host blood-based biosignatures for subclinical TB and incipient TB: A prospective study of adult TB household contacts in Southern India. Sivakumaran D, Jenum S, Srivastava A, Steen VM, Vaz M, Doherty TM, Ritz C, Grewal HMS.Front Immunol. 2023 Jan 11;13:1051963. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1051963