To explore the host genetic factors involved in the formation of clusters among tuberculosis patients

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15847
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 45010:Genetics-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases (2021-2023); National Center for Global Health and Medicine (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Miyahara Reiko 国立感染症研究所, 感染症疫学センター, 室長 (40567301)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 結核 / 感染症 / 全ゲノム解析 / クラスター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death　worldwide. Previous studies have shown that different lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exhibit varying levels of transmissibility. This study aimed to identify genetic clusters from the whole-genome sequencing results of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and analyze the risk factors contributing to the heterogeneity in transmission, considering the characteristics of TB patients, including host genetic factors and contact patterns. Consistent with previous research, Lineage 2 was associated with large clusters (with 10 or more TB patients per cluster). It was also found that individuals with a history of incarceration were more likely to be included in large clusters. Further analysis will be conducted with an increased sample size to investigate the involvement of host genetic factors in the formation of genetic clusters.

Free Research Field

感染症疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

結核高蔓延国における結核対策の重要な点は、限られた医療資源をどのように分配し効率的に利用するかということである。そのため、接触者健診やアウトブレイク調査などの感染対策を、どのような感染者を対象に重点的に実施するかを明らかにすることが重要である。本研究は、結核感染拡大や感染伝播性の不均一性に、過去の受刑歴や結核菌の遺伝子型が関連していることを明らかにした。刑務所での結核感染拡大が地域内での感染拡大に影響していることが示唆され、重点的な刑務所への介入や対象者の選定による効果的な感染対策や結核スクリーニング手法に関して重要な提言となった。