Global biological sample collections from tuberculosis studies: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Biorepository Science
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Understanding protective immunity and disease mechanisms is crucial but incomplete for tuberculosis vaccine development.
• Existing tuberculosis studies collect valuable biological samples that are often siloed.
• A coordinated network of sample biorepositories could bridge knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of creating an interconnected network of sample biorepositories from tuberculosis studies.
• To evaluate the availability of biological samples and investigator interest in such a resource.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a scoping review of tuberculosis observational studies and vaccine clinical trials (2014-2024).
• Included studies with >100 participants collecting biological samples from cases, contacts, or controls.
• Contacted study authors to determine sample availability and interest in interconnected biorepositories.

Main Results:

• Identified 104 observational studies and 18 vaccine trials across 43 countries.
• These studies collected samples from over 110,000 individuals (cases, contacts, controls, trial participants).
• Commonly collected samples include blood, DNA, RNA, and sputum; investigator interest was high.

Conclusions:

• Interconnected sample biorepositories are feasible and highly desired by researchers.
• Such a resource can facilitate large-scale investigations into tuberculosis.
• This network has the potential to significantly accelerate tuberculosis vaccine development.