Human genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases

The existence of a genetic component in mycobacterial disease susceptibility is no longer in doubt and the investigations now being conducted aim to determine which genes are involved, to what extent, and in which disease phenotype they are relevant. In certain rare instances of susceptibility to poorly pathogenic mycobacteria, the genetic component is clear. The approaches employed to elucidate common disease susceptibility include linkage studies, particularly genome-wide linkage analysis of both tuberculosis and leprosy, and association studies. A number of candidate genes have shown association with tuberculosis, and in many cases, on replication of the study, association has been confirmed in a disparate population, indicating the wider importance of the gene in the disease process. In other instances, associations appear to be particular to a population or a subtype of disease.