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A Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay TB-MBLA
Published on: April 30, 2020
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Toward a molecular microbial blood test for tuberculosis infection
Adrian R Martineau1, Shruthi Chandran1, Winnie Palukani1
1Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Summary
Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DNA in blood offers a promising approach to identify individuals at risk of progressing to tuberculosis (TB). This molecular blood test could enable targeted preventive therapies to combat the global TB epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- The World Health Organization aims to end the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2050, necessitating strategies to identify and treat asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections.
- Current diagnostic tests for Mtb infection have low positive predictive value for disease progression, limiting the effectiveness of preventive therapies.
- Accurate identification of individuals with persistent Mtb infection is crucial for preventing progression to active TB disease.
Approach:
- This review summarizes advancements in molecular microbial blood tests for Mtb infection.
- It discusses discrepancies between molecular blood tests and immunodiagnostic tests in individuals exposed to infectious TB cases.
- A roadmap for developing molecular microbial blood tests is presented.
Key Points:
- Molecular blood tests detecting Mtb DNA can identify persistent infections, enabling targeted preventive therapy.
- Understanding discordance between molecular and immunodiagnostic tests is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy.
- Further research in molecular diagnostics holds potential for novel insights into Mtb biology and TB control.
Conclusions:
- Molecular microbial blood tests represent a significant advancement in diagnosing Mtb infection.
- These tests can improve the targeting of preventive antimicrobial therapy, a key strategy for TB epidemic control.
- Continued development of these tests is vital for global TB eradication efforts.
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