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Randall P, Mutsvangwa J, Nliwasa M, Wilson L, Makamure B, Makambwa E, Meldau R, Dheda K, Munyati S, Siddiqi O, Corbett E, Esmail A. Utility of Cerebrospinal Fluid Unstimulated Interferon-Gamma (IRISA-TB) as a Same-Day Test for Tuberculous Meningitis in a Tuberculosis-Endemic, Resource-Poor Setting. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae496. [PMID: 39286031 PMCID: PMC11403475 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) mortality is high and current diagnostics perform suboptimally. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a DNA-based assay (GeneXpert Ultra) against a new same-day immunodiagnostic assay that detects unstimulated interferon-gamma (IRISA-TB). Methods In a stage 1 evaluation, IRISA-TB was evaluated in biobanked samples from Zambia (n = 82; tuberculosis [TB] and non-TBM), and specificity in a South African biobank (n = 291; non-TBM only). Given encouraging results, a stage 2 evaluation was performed in suspected TBM patients from Zimbabwe and Malawi (n = 668). Patients were classified as having definite, probable or possible TBM, or non-TBM based on their microbiological results, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) chemistry, and whether they received treatment. Results In the stage 1 evaluation, sensitivity and specificity of IRISA-TB were 75% and 87% in the Zambian samples, and specificity was 100% in the South African samples. In the stage 2 validation, IRISA-TB sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI]) was significantly higher than Xpert Ultra (76.2% [55.0%-89.4%] vs 25% [8.9%-53.3%]; P = .0048) when trace readouts were considered negative. Specificity (95% CI) was similar for both assays (91.4% [88.8%-93.4%] vs 86.9% [83.4%-89.8%]). When the Xpert Ultra polymerase chain reaction product was verified by sequencing, the positive predictive value of trace readouts in CSF was 27.8%. Sensitivity of IRISA-TB was higher in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected versus uninfected participants (85.8% vs 66.7%). Conclusions As a same-day rule-in test, IRISA-TB had significantly better sensitivity than Xpert Ultra in a TB/HIV-endemic setting. An immunodiagnostic approach to TBM is promising, and further studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa Randall
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Division of Pulmonology, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
- Antrum Biotech (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Lindsay Wilson
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Division of Pulmonology, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Beauty Makamure
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Edson Makambwa
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Division of Pulmonology, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Meldau
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Division of Pulmonology, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Division of Pulmonology, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shungu Munyati
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Omar Siddiqi
- Division of Neuro-Virology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Ali Esmail
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Division of Pulmonology, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
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Randall P, Esmail A, Wilson L, Makambwa E, Pooran A, Tomasicchio M, Dheda K, Ntsekhe M. GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra vs Unstimulated Interferon γ (IRISA-TB) for the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Pericarditis in a Tuberculosis-Endemic Setting. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae021. [PMID: 38510916 PMCID: PMC10953797 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculous pericarditis (TBP) is a paucibacillary disease, where host biomarkers such as unstimulated interferon γ (IRISA-TB) have high diagnostic accuracy. However, DNA-based diagnostic tests (GeneXpert Ultra), more sensitive than an earlier versions, have recently become available. Given that the diagnosis of TBP is challenging, we performed a comparative diagnostic accuracy study comparing both assays. Methods We recruited 99 consecutive patients with suspected TBP in Cape Town, South Africa. Definite TBP was defined by microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis (TB) on pericardial fluid culture or an alternative polymerase chain reaction-based test (GeneXpert MTB/RIF) or by use of sputum (polymerase chain reaction or culture). Probable TBP was defined as a high clinical suspicion of TB accompanied by anti-TB treatment, while non-TBP was defined as negative microbiological test results for TB without initiation of TB treatment and/or the presence of an alternative diagnosis. Results There were 39 patients with definite TBP, 35 with probable TBP, and 23 with non-TBP. Approximately 70% of participants who received TB treatment were HIV coinfected. Overall, IRISA-TB was more sensitive than Xpert Ultra (88.6% [95% CI, 74.1%-95.5%] vs 71.5% [55.0%-83.7%], n = 53) and significantly more sensitive in participants who were HIV uninfected (100% [95% CI, 72.3%-100.0%] vs 60% [31.3%-83.2%], P = .03). In patients with definite and probable TBP combined (n = 84), sensitivity was significantly higher with IRISA-TB (77.3% [95% CI, 65.9%-85.8%] vs 37.9 [27.2%-50.0%], P < .0001). A similar pattern was seen in persons who were HIV uninfected (88.3% vs 35.3%, P = .002). Specificity was high for both assays (>95%). Conclusions Unstimulated interferon γ (IRISA-TB) was significantly more sensitive than Xpert Ultra for the diagnosis of TB pericarditis in a TB-endemic resource-poor setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa Randall
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Antrum Biotech, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Aliasgar Esmail
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Lindsay Wilson
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Edson Makambwa
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Anil Pooran
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Michele Tomasicchio
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Division of Pulmonology, Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mpiko Ntsekhe
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
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Barnacle JR, Davis AG, Wilkinson RJ. Recent advances in understanding the human host immune response in tuberculous meningitis. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1326651. [PMID: 38264653 PMCID: PMC10803428 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1326651] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), the most severe form of tuberculosis, causes death in approximately 25% cases despite antibiotic therapy, and half of survivors are left with neurological disability. Mortality and morbidity are contributed to by a dysregulated immune response, and adjunctive host-directed therapies are required to modulate this response and improve outcomes. Developing such therapies relies on improved understanding of the host immune response to TBM. The historical challenges in TBM research of limited in vivo and in vitro models have been partially overcome by recent developments in proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, and the use of these technologies in nested substudies of large clinical trials. We review the current understanding of the human immune response in TBM. We begin with M. tuberculosis entry into the central nervous system (CNS), microglial infection and blood-brain and other CNS barrier dysfunction. We then outline the innate response, including the early cytokine response, role of canonical and non-canonical inflammasomes, eicosanoids and specialised pro-resolving mediators. Next, we review the adaptive response including T cells, microRNAs and B cells, followed by the role of the glutamate-GABA neurotransmitter cycle and the tryptophan pathway. We discuss host genetic immune factors, differences between adults and children, paradoxical reaction, and the impact of HIV-1 co-infection including immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Promising immunomodulatory therapies, research gaps, ongoing challenges and future paths are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Barnacle
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Angharad G. Davis
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Robert J. Wilkinson
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
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Kimuda S, Kasozi D, Namombwe S, Gakuru J, Mugabi T, Kagimu E, Rutakingirwa MK, Leon KE, Chow F, Wasserman S, Boulware DR, Cresswell FV, Bahr NC. Advancing Diagnosis and Treatment in People Living with HIV and Tuberculosis Meningitis. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:379-393. [PMID: 37947980 PMCID: PMC10719136 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00678-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis. Inadequate diagnostic testing and treatment regimens adapted from pulmonary tuberculosis without consideration of the unique nature of TBM are among the potential drivers. This review focuses on the progress being made in relation to both diagnosis and treatment of TBM, emphasizing promising future directions. RECENT FINDINGS The molecular assay GeneXpert MTB/Rif Ultra has improved sensitivity but has inadequate negative predictive value to "rule-out" TBM. Evaluations of tests focused on the host response and bacterial components are ongoing. Clinical trials are in progress to explore the roles of rifampin, fluoroquinolones, linezolid, and adjunctive aspirin. Though diagnosis has improved, novel modalities are being explored to improve the rapid diagnosis of TBM. Multiple ongoing clinical trials may change current therapies for TBM in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kimuda
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Derrick Kasozi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Suzan Namombwe
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jane Gakuru
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Timothy Mugabi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Enock Kagimu
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Kristoffer E Leon
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (Infectious Diseases), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Felicia Chow
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (Infectious Diseases), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sean Wasserman
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David R Boulware
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Fiona V Cresswell
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- HIV Interventions, MRC/UVRI-LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Nathan C Bahr
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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