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Brown LK, Van Schalkwyk C, De Villiers AK, Marx FM. Impact of interventions for tuberculosis prevention and care in South Africa - a systematic review of mathematical modelling studies. S Afr Med J 2023; 113:125-134. [PMID: 36876352 DOI: 10.7196/samj.2023.v113i3.16812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substantial additional efforts are needed to prevent, find and successfully treat tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa (SA). In thepast decade, an increasing body of mathematical modelling research has investigated the population-level impact of TB prevention and careinterventions. To date, this evidence has not been assessed in the SA context. OBJECTIVE To systematically review mathematical modelling studies that estimated the impact of interventions towards the World HealthOrganization's End TB Strategy targets for TB incidence, TB deaths and catastrophic costs due to TB in SA. METHODS We searched the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases for studies that used transmission-dynamic models of TB in SAand reported on at least one of the End TB Strategy targets at population level. We described study populations, type of interventions andtheir target groups, and estimates of impact and other key findings. For studies of country-level interventions, we estimated average annualpercentage declines (AAPDs) in TB incidence and mortality attributable to the intervention. RESULTS We identified 29 studies that met our inclusion criteria, of which 7 modelled TB preventive interventions (vaccination,antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV, TB preventive treatment (TPT)), 12 considered interventions along the care cascade for TB(screening/case finding, reducing initial loss to follow-up, diagnostic and treatment interventions), and 10 modelled combinationsof preventive and care-cascade interventions. Only one study focused on reducing catastrophic costs due to TB. The highest impactof a single intervention was estimated in studies of TB vaccination, TPT among people living with HIV, and scale-up of ART. Forpreventive interventions, AAPDs for TB incidence varied between 0.06% and 7.07%, and for care-cascade interventions between 0.05%and 3.27%. CONCLUSION We describe a body of mathematical modelling research with a focus on TB prevention and care in SA. We found higherestimates of impact reported in studies of preventive interventions, highlighting the need to invest in TB prevention in SA. However, studyheterogeneity and inconsistent baseline scenarios limit the ability to compare impact estimates between studies. Combinations, rather thansingle interventions, are likely needed to reach the End TB Strategy targets in SA.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Brown
- South African DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - C Van Schalkwyk
- South African DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - A K De Villiers
- South African DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - F M Marx
- South African DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Sumner T, White RG. Variance-based sensitivity analysis of tuberculosis transmission models. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220413. [PMID: 36415976 PMCID: PMC9682306 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mathematical models are widely used to provide evidence to inform policies for tuberculosis (TB) control. These models contain many sources of input uncertainty including the choice of model structure, parameter values and input data. Quantifying the role of these different sources of input uncertainty on the model outputs is important for understanding model dynamics and improving evidence for policy making. In this paper, we applied the Sobol sensitivity analysis method to a TB transmission model used to simulate the effects of a hypothetical population-wide screening strategy. We demonstrated how the method can be used to quantify the importance of both model parameters and model structure and how the analysis can be conducted on groups of inputs. Uncertainty in the model outputs was dominated by uncertainty in the intervention parameters. The important inputs were context dependent, depending on the setting, time horizon and outcome measure considered. In particular, the choice of model structure had an increasing effect on output uncertainty in high TB incidence settings. Grouping inputs identified the same influential inputs. Wider use of the Sobol method could inform ongoing development of infectious disease models and improve the use of modelling evidence in decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Sumner
- TB Modelling Group, TB Centre, Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Richard G. White
- TB Modelling Group, TB Centre, Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Chakaya J, Khan M, Ntoumi F, Aklillu E, Fatima R, Mwaba P, Kapata N, Mfinanga S, Hasnain SE, Katoto PDMC, Bulabula ANH, Sam-Agudu NA, Nachega JB, Tiberi S, McHugh TD, Abubakar I, Zumla A. Global Tuberculosis Report 2020 - Reflections on the Global TB burden, treatment and prevention efforts. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 113 Suppl 1:S7-S12. [PMID: 33716195 PMCID: PMC8433257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 456] [Impact Index Per Article: 152.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The October 2020 Global TB report reviews TB control strategies and United Nations (UN) targets set in the political declaration at the September 2018 UN General Assembly high-level meeting on TB held in New York. Progress in TB care and prevention has been very slow. In 2019, TB remained the most common cause of death from a single infectious pathogen. Globally, an estimated 10.0 million people developed TB disease in 2019, and there were an estimated 1.2 million TB deaths among HIV-negative people and an additional 208, 000 deaths among people living with HIV. Adults accounted for 88% and children for 12% of people with TB. The WHO regions of South-East Asia (44%), Africa (25%), and the Western Pacific (18%) had the most people with TB. Eight countries accounted for two thirds of the global total: India (26%), Indonesia (8.5%), China (8.4%), the Philippines (6.0%), Pakistan (5.7%), Nigeria (4.4%), Bangladesh (3.6%) and South Africa (3.6%). Only 30% of the 3.5 million five-year target for children treated for TB was met. Major advances have been development of new all oral regimens for MDRTB and new regimens for preventive therapy. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic dislodged TB from the top infectious disease cause of mortality globally. Notably, global TB control efforts were not on track even before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many challenges remain to improve sub-optimal TB treatment and prevention services. Tuberculosis screening and diagnostic test services need to be ramped up. The major drivers of TB remain undernutrition, poverty, diabetes, tobacco smoking, and household air pollution and these need be addressed to achieve the WHO 2035 TB care and prevention targets. National programs need to include interventions for post-tuberculosis holistic wellbeing. From first detection of COVID-19 global coordination and political will with huge financial investments have led to the development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV2 infection. The world now needs to similarly focus on development of new vaccines for TB utilizing new technological methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah Chakaya
- Department of Medicine, Therapeutics and Dermatology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Mishal Khan
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Francine Ntoumi
- Université Marien Gouabi, Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Congo; Institute for Tropical Diseases, University of Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Eleni Aklillu
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Razia Fatima
- National TB Control Program, Common Unit (HIV,TB,Malaria), Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Peter Mwaba
- Lusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - Nathan Kapata
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - Sayoki Mfinanga
- National Institute for Medical Research, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania.
| | - Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain
- Department of Bichemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India.
| | - Patrick D M C Katoto
- Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - André N H Bulabula
- Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Nadia A Sam-Agudu
- International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria; Institute of Human Virology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
| | - Jean B Nachega
- Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Dept of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Center for Global Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Simon Tiberi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Division of Infection, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
| | - Timothy D McHugh
- Center for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Royal Free Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Ibrahim Abubakar
- Institute of Global health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Alimuddin Zumla
- Department of Infection, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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Goscé L, Abou Jaoude GJ, Kedziora DJ, Benedikt C, Hussain A, Jarvis S, Skrahina A, Klimuk D, Hurevich H, Zhao F, Fraser-Hurt N, Cheikh N, Gorgens M, Wilson DJ, Abeysuriya R, Martin-Hughes R, Kelly SL, Roberts A, Stuart RM, Palmer T, Panovska-Griffiths J, Kerr CC, Wilson DP, Haghparast-Bidgoli H, Skordis J, Abubakar I. Optima TB: A tool to help optimally allocate tuberculosis spending. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009255. [PMID: 34570767 PMCID: PMC8496838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 85% of tuberculosis (TB) related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries where health resources are scarce. Effective priority setting is required to maximise the impact of limited budgets. The Optima TB tool has been developed to support analytical capacity and inform evidence-based priority setting processes for TB health benefits package design. This paper outlines the Optima TB framework and how it was applied in Belarus, an upper-middle income country in Eastern Europe with a relatively high burden of TB. Optima TB is a population-based disease transmission model, with programmatic cost functions and an optimisation algorithm. Modelled populations include age-differentiated general populations and higher-risk populations such as people living with HIV. Populations and prospective interventions are defined in consultation with local stakeholders. In partnership with the latter, demographic, epidemiological, programmatic, as well as cost and spending data for these populations and interventions are then collated. An optimisation analysis of TB spending was conducted in Belarus, using program objectives and constraints defined in collaboration with local stakeholders, which included experts, decision makers, funders and organisations involved in service delivery, support and technical assistance. These analyses show that it is possible to improve health impact by redistributing current TB spending in Belarus. Specifically, shifting funding from inpatient- to outpatient-focused care models, and from mass screening to active case finding strategies, could reduce TB prevalence and mortality by up to 45% and 50%, respectively, by 2035. In addition, an optimised allocation of TB spending could lead to a reduction in drug-resistant TB infections by 40% over this period. This would support progress towards national TB targets without additional financial resources. The case study in Belarus demonstrates how reallocations of spending across existing and new interventions could have a substantial impact on TB outcomes. This highlights the potential for Optima TB and similar modelling tools to support evidence-based priority setting. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading global cause of death and morbidity, and 85% of deaths occur in countries where resources for TB care and control are limited. Many countries cannot finance all TB interventions or technologies, which means difficult decisions on what to prioritise and publically finance. Modelling tools can help decision-makers set priorities based on evidence, in a systematic and transparent way. This study presents Optima TB, a tool that estimates which allocations of spending across interventions will most likely maximise specified objectives—such as minimising TB deaths, prevalence and incidence. In partnership with local decision-makers and stakeholders, Optima TB was applied in Belarus. Recommendations from the model findings include focussing investment on outpatient rather than inpatient care and actively finding people with TB (e.g. through contact tracing) rather than mass testing of the population. The recommended reallocations of spending could reduce TB prevalence and deaths by up to 45% and 50%, respectively, by 2035 for the same amount of spending. Key stakeholders were engaged throughout the analysis and findings and uncertainty around the results were clearly communicated with decision-makers. The timeliness of the results helped inform national dialogue on TB care reform, among other key policy discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Goscé
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - Clemens Benedikt
- World Bank, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | | | | | - Alena Skrahina
- The Republican Scientific and Practice Centre for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Dzmitry Klimuk
- The Republican Scientific and Practice Centre for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Henadz Hurevich
- The Republican Scientific and Practice Centre for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Feng Zhao
- World Bank, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | | | - Nejma Cheikh
- World Bank, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Marelize Gorgens
- World Bank, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - David J. Wilson
- World Bank, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | - Robyn M. Stuart
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tom Palmer
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Perumal P, Abdullatif MB, Garlant HN, Honeyborne I, Lipman M, McHugh TD, Southern J, Breen R, Santis G, Ellappan K, Kumar SV, Belgode H, Abubakar I, Sinha S, Vasan SS, Joseph N, Kempsell KE. Validation of Differentially Expressed Immune Biomarkers in Latent and Active Tuberculosis by Real-Time PCR. Front Immunol 2021; 11:612564. [PMID: 33841389 PMCID: PMC8029985 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.612564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global threat and diagnosis of active TB ((ATB) both extra-pulmonary (EPTB), pulmonary (PTB)) and latent TB (LTBI) infection remains challenging, particularly in high-burden countries which still rely heavily on conventional methods. Although molecular diagnostic methods are available, e.g., Cepheid GeneXpert, they are not universally available in all high TB burden countries. There is intense focus on immune biomarkers for use in TB diagnosis, which could provide alternative low-cost, rapid diagnostic solutions. In our previous gene expression studies, we identified peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) mRNA biomarkers in a non-human primate TB aerosol-challenge model. Here, we describe a study to further validate select mRNA biomarkers from this prior study in new cohorts of patients and controls, as a prerequisite for further development. Whole blood mRNA was purified from ATB patients recruited in the UK and India, LTBI and two groups of controls from the UK (i) a low TB incidence region (CNTRLA) and (ii) individuals variably-domiciled in the UK and Asia ((CNTRLB), the latter TB high incidence regions). Seventy-two mRNA biomarker gene targets were analyzed by qPCR using the Roche Lightcycler 480 qPCR platform and data analyzed using GeneSpring™ 14.9 bioinformatics software. Differential expression of fifty-three biomarkers was confirmed between MTB infected, LTBI groups and controls, seventeen of which were significant using analysis of variance (ANOVA): CALCOCO2, CD52, GBP1, GBP2, GBP5, HLA-B, IFIT3, IFITM3, IRF1, LOC400759 (GBP1P1), NCF1C, PF4V1, SAMD9L, S100A11, TAF10, TAPBP, and TRIM25. These were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Single biomarkers and biomarker combinations were further assessed using simple arithmetic algorithms. Minimal combination biomarker panels were delineated for primary diagnosis of ATB (both PTB and EPTB), LTBI and identifying LTBI individuals at high risk of progression which showed good performance characteristics. These were assessed for suitability for progression against the standards for new TB diagnostic tests delineated in the published World Health Organization (WHO) technology product profiles (TPPs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Prem Perumal
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Harriet N. Garlant
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
| | - Isobella Honeyborne
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Lipman
- UCL Respiratory, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy D. McHugh
- Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Southern
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ronan Breen
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - George Santis
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kalaiarasan Ellappan
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Dhanvantri Nagar, Gorimedu, Puducherry, India
| | - Saka Vinod Kumar
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Dhanvantri Nagar, Gorimedu, Puducherry, India
| | - Harish Belgode
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Dhanvantri Nagar, Gorimedu, Puducherry, India
| | - Ibrahim Abubakar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjeev Sinha
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Seshadri S. Vasan
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Noyal Joseph
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Dhanvantri Nagar, Gorimedu, Puducherry, India
| | - Karen E. Kempsell
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
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Biomarker-guided tuberculosis preventive therapy (CORTIS): a randomised controlled trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 21:354-365. [PMID: 33508224 PMCID: PMC7907670 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30914-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Targeted preventive therapy for individuals at highest risk of incident tuberculosis might impact the epidemic by interrupting transmission. We tested performance of a transcriptomic signature of tuberculosis (RISK11) and efficacy of signature-guided preventive therapy in parallel, using a hybrid three-group study design. Methods Adult volunteers aged 18–59 years were recruited at five geographically distinct communities in South Africa. Whole blood was sampled for RISK11 by quantitative RT-PCR assay from eligible volunteers without HIV, recent previous tuberculosis (ie, <3 years before screening), or comorbidities at screening. RISK11-positive participants were block randomised (1:2; block size 15) to once-weekly, directly-observed, open-label isoniazid and rifapentine for 12 weeks (ie, RISK11 positive and 3HP positive), or no treatment (ie, RISK11 positive and 3HP negative). A subset of eligible RISK11-negative volunteers were randomly assigned to no treatment (ie, RISK11 negative and 3HP negative). Diagnostic discrimination of prevalent tuberculosis was tested in all participants at baseline. Thereafter, prognostic discrimination of incident tuberculosis was tested in the untreated RISK11-positive versus RISK11-negative groups, and treatment efficacy in the 3HP-treated versus untreated RISK11-positive groups, during active surveillance through 15 months. The primary endpoint was microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. The primary outcome measures were risk ratio [RR] for tuberculosis of RISK11-positive to RISK11-negative participants, and treatment efficacy. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02735590. Findings 20 207 volunteers were screened, and 2923 participants were enrolled, including RISK11-positive participants randomly assigned to 3HP (n=375) or no 3HP (n=764), and 1784 RISK11-negative participants. Cumulative probability of prevalent or incident tuberculosis disease was 0·066 (95% CI 0·049 to 0·084) in RISK11-positive (3HP negative) participants and 0·018 (0·011 to 0·025) in RISK11-negative participants (RR 3·69, 95% CI 2·25–6·05) over 15 months. Tuberculosis prevalence was 47 (4·1%) of 1139 versus 14 (0·78%) of 1984 in RISK11-positive compared with RISK11-negative participants, respectively (diagnostic RR 5·13, 95% CI 2·93 to 9·43). Tuberculosis incidence over 15 months was 2·09 (95% CI 0·97 to 3·19) vs 0·80 (0·30 to 1·30) per 100 person years in RISK11-positive (3HP-negative) participants compared with RISK11-negative participants (cumulative incidence ratio 2·6, 95% CI 1·2 to 5·9). Serious adverse events related to 3HP included one hospitalisation for seizures (unintentional isoniazid overdose) and one death of unknown cause (possibly temporally related). Tuberculosis incidence over 15 months was 1·94 (95% CI 0·35 to 3·50) versus 2·09 (95% CI 0·97 to 3·19) per 100 person-years in 3HP-treated RISK11-positive participants compared with untreated RISK11-positive participants (efficacy 7·0%, 95% CI −145 to 65). Interpretation The RISK11 signature discriminated between individuals with prevalent tuberculosis, or progression to incident tuberculosis, and individuals who remained healthy, but provision of 3HP to signature-positive individuals after exclusion of baseline disease did not reduce progression to tuberculosis over 15 months. Funding Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, South African Medical Research Council.
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Malik YS, Ansari MI, Ganesh B, Sircar S, Bhat S, Pande T, Vinodhkumar OR, Kumar P, Iqbal Yatoo M, Tiwari R, Touil N, Patel SK, Pathak M, Sharun K, Dhama K. BCG vaccine: a hope to control COVID-19 pandemic amid crisis. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 16:2954-2962. [PMID: 32991235 PMCID: PMC7544963 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1818522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 has gripped essentially all countries in the world, and has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Several innovative approaches are in development to restrain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In particular, BCG, a vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), is being considered as an alternative therapeutic modality. BCG vaccine is known to induce both humoral and adaptive immunities, thereby activating both nonspecific and cross-reactive immune responses in the host, which combined could effectively resist other pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. Notably, some studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, case positivity, and mortality rate have been higher in countries that have not adopted BCG vaccination than in countries that have done so. This review presents an overview of the concepts underlying BCG vaccination and its nonspecific immuological effects and protection, resulting in 'trained immunity' and potential utility for resisting COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashpal Singh Malik
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mohd Ikram Ansari
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Balasubramanian Ganesh
- Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, Laboratory Division, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, (Indian Council of Medical Research), Ayapakkam, Chennai-Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shubhankar Sircar
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sudipta Bhat
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tripti Pande
- Division of Biological Standardization, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - OR Vinodhkumar
- Division of Epidemiology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, J-3 Block, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mohd Iqbal Yatoo
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ruchi Tiwari
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Sciences, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura, India
| | - Nadia Touil
- Laboratoire De Recherche Et De Biosécurité, Hôpital Militaire D’instruction Med V De, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Shailesh Kumar Patel
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mamta Pathak
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Khan Sharun
- Division of Surgery, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Performance of diagnostic and predictive host blood transcriptomic signatures for Tuberculosis disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237574. [PMID: 32822359 PMCID: PMC7442252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Host blood transcriptomic biomarkers have potential as rapid point-of-care triage, diagnostic, and predictive tests for Tuberculosis disease. We aimed to summarise the performance of host blood transcriptomic signatures for diagnosis of and prediction of progression to Tuberculosis disease; and compare their performance to the recommended World Health Organisation target product profile. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance of host blood mRNA signatures for diagnosing and predicting progression to Tuberculosis disease in HIV-negative adults and adolescents, in studies with an independent validation cohort. Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO libraries were searched for articles published between January 2005 and May 2019, complemented by a search of bibliographies. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were done independently by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed for signatures that were validated in ≥3 comparable cohorts, using a bivariate random effects model. RESULTS Twenty studies evaluating 25 signatures for diagnosis of or prediction of progression to TB disease in a total of 68 cohorts were included. Eighteen studies evaluated 24 signatures for TB diagnosis and 17 signatures met at least one TPP minimum performance criterion. Three diagnostic signatures were validated in clinically relevant cohorts to differentiate TB from other diseases, with pooled sensitivity 84%, 87% and 90% and pooled specificity 79%, 88% and 74%, respectively. Four studies evaluated signatures for progression to TB disease and performance of one signature, assessed within six months of TB diagnosis, met the minimal TPP for a predictive test for progression to TB disease. CONCLUSION Host blood mRNA signatures hold promise as triage tests for TB. Further optimisation is needed if mRNA signatures are to be used as standalone diagnostic or predictive tests for therapeutic decision-making.
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Muefong CN, Sutherland JS. Neutrophils in Tuberculosis-Associated Inflammation and Lung Pathology. Front Immunol 2020; 11:962. [PMID: 32536917 PMCID: PMC7266980 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protective immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)—the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB)—is not fully understood but involves immune responses within the pulmonary airways which can lead to exacerbated inflammation and immune pathology. In humans, this inflammation results in lung damage; the extent of which depends on specific host pro-inflammatory processes. Neutrophils, though increasingly linked to the development of inflammatory disorders, have been less well studied in relation to TB-induced lung pathology. Neutrophils mode of action and their specialized functions can be directly linked to TB-specific lung tissue damage observed on patient chest X-rays at diagnosis and contribute to long-term pulmonary sequelae. This review discusses aspects of neutrophil activity associated with active TB, including the resulting inflammation and pulmonary impairment. It highlights the significance of neutrophil function on TB disease outcome and underlines the necessity of monitoring neutrophil function for better assessment of the immune response and severity of lung pathology associated with TB. Finally, we propose that some MMPs, ROS, MPO, S100A8/A9 and Glutathione are neutrophil-related inflammatory mediators with promising potential as targets for developing host-directed therapies for TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb N Muefong
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Jayne S Sutherland
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
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Esmail H, Cobelens F, Goletti D. Transcriptional biomarkers for predicting development of tuberculosis: progress and clinical considerations. Eur Respir J 2020; 55:1901957. [PMID: 31949119 PMCID: PMC7057180 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01957-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The new experimental tools to detect incipient tuberculosis (TB) in those with latent TB infection can be clinically relevant for achieving global TB control. In this manuscript, how such tests fit may into future TB management is discussed. http://bit.ly/35WiozD
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanif Esmail
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at University College London, London, UK
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Frank Cobelens
- Dept of Global Health and Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, Dept of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, "L. Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI), IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Scriba TJ, Mendelsohn SC. Headway made towards biosignatures for incipient tuberculosis. THE LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2020; 8:328-330. [PMID: 31958399 PMCID: PMC8908387 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(19)30355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Scriba
- South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
| | - Simon C Mendelsohn
- South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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Host-Directed Therapy as a Novel Treatment Strategy to Overcome Tuberculosis: Targeting Immune Modulation. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9010021. [PMID: 31936156 PMCID: PMC7168302 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries, presenting a major threat to the public health. The currently recommended long term treatment regimen with multiple antibiotics is associated with poor patient compliance, which in turn, may contribute to the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). The low global treatment efficacy of MDR-TB has highlighted the necessity to develop novel treatment options. Host-directed therapy (HDT) together with current standard anti-TB treatments, has gained considerable interest, as HDT targets novel host immune mechanisms. These immune mechanisms would otherwise bypass the antibiotic bactericidal targets to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which may be mutated to cause antibiotic resistance. Additionally, host-directed therapies against TB have been shown to be associated with reduced lung pathology and improved disease outcome, most likely via the modulation of host immune responses. This review will provide an update of host-directed therapies and their mechanism(s) of action against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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