[The system of matrix metalloproteinases and their role in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum levels of parameters of the system metalloproteinase (MMP)/inhibitors with severity of infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis (ITL), changes in examined parameters during the intensive phase treatment (IPT), as well as possibility of their use for prediction of IPT effectiveness, along with acute-phase proteins (AFP). The study included ITL patients which were subdivided into two groups (I and II) with different rates of reparative changes. It was shown that: 1) ITL is characterized by impairements in the system MMP/inhibitors: the levels of MMP-1, -9 increased, MMP-3, -8, TIMP-1 remained at the reference values and a 2-macroglobulin was low. 2) Changes of the parameters of the system MMP/inhibitors were associated with markers of severity and activity of the process: MMP-1, with the presence of destruction and sensitivity of the pathogen (Mycobacterium tuberculosis; MBT) to anti-TB drugs, MMP-9, with the volume of destruction, MMP-8 - with activity of tuberculosis. 3) TIMP-1 and MMP-9 concentrations decreased during treatment in groups with different rates of reparative process, whereas proMMP-1, MMP-3,-8 remained unchanged. 4) Before and after IPT, the level of TIMP-1 was higher in the group of patients with slower rate of reparative processes. 5) After IPT the imbalance in the system MMP/inhibitor preserved thus suggesting continuation of the reparative process. 6) Use of combination of MMP and AFR is more informative in predicting efficacy of IPT.

Genome-wide Mycobacterium tuberculosis variation (GMTV) database: a new tool for integrating sequence variations and epidemiology

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) poses a worldwide threat due to advancing multidrug-resistant strains and deadly co-infections with Human immunodeficiency virus. Today large amounts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis whole genome sequencing data are being assessed broadly and yet there exists no comprehensive online resource that connects M. tuberculosis genome variants with geographic origin, with drug resistance or with clinical outcome.

Description

Here we describe a broadly inclusive unifying Genome-wide Mycobacterium tuberculosis Variation (GMTV) database, (http://mtb.dobzhanskycenter.org) that catalogues genome variations of M. tuberculosis strains collected across Russia. GMTV contains a broad spectrum of data derived from different sources and related to M. tuberculosis molecular biology, epidemiology, TB clinical outcome, year and place of isolation, drug resistance profiles and displays the variants across the genome using a dedicated genome browser. GMTV database, which includes 1084 genomes and over 69,000 SNP or Indel variants, can be queried about M. tuberculosis genome variation and putative associations with drug resistance, geographical origin, and clinical stages and outcomes.

Conclusions

Implementation of GMTV tracks the pattern of changes of M. tuberculosis strains in different geographical areas, facilitates disease gene discoveries associated with drug resistance or different clinical sequelae, and automates comparative genomic analyses among M. tuberculosis strains.