Metabolite changes in blood predict the onset of tuberculosis

Weiner, J. et al. (2018) Metabolite changes in blood predict the onset of tuberculosis. Nature Communications, 9, 5208. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07635-7) (PMID:30523338) (PMCID:PMC6283869)

Abstract

New biomarkers of tuberculosis (TB) risk and disease are critical for the urgently needed control of the ongoing TB pandemic. In a prospective multisite study across Subsaharan Africa, we analyzed metabolic profiles in serum and plasma from HIV-negative, TB-exposed individuals who either progressed to TB 3–24 months post-exposure (progressors) or remained healthy (controls). We generated a trans-African metabolic biosignature for TB, which identifies future progressors both on blinded test samples and in external data sets and shows a performance of 69% sensitivity at 75% specificity in samples within 5 months of diagnosis. These prognostic metabolic signatures are consistent with development of subclinical disease prior to manifestation of active TB. Metabolic changes associated with pre-symptomatic disease are observed as early as 12 months prior to TB diagnosis, thus enabling timely interventions to prevent disease progression and transmission.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges in Global Health Program (BMGF GC6-74, #37772 and GC6-2013, OPP1055806), National Institutes of Health Contract No. HHSN266200700022C/NO1-AI-70022 for the Tuberculosis Research Unit (TBRU).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Crampin, Professor Mia
• Authors: Weiner, J., Maertzdorf, J., Sutherland, J. S., Duffy, F. J., Thompson, E., Suliman, S., McEwen, G., Thiel, B., Parida, S. K., Zyla, J., Hanekom, W. A., Mohney, R. P., Boom, W. H., Mayanja-Kizza, H., Howe, R., Dockrell, H. M., Ottenhoff, T. H. M., Scriba, T. J., Zak, D. E., Walzl, G., Kaufmann, S. H. E., and The GC6-74 Consortium,
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN (Online): 2041-1723