How genes affect tuberculosis in people
Genetics & Clinical Cohorts
Researchers are comparing human and TB bacterial genes from patients in Vietnam and Uganda to find gene differences linked to getting pulmonary tuberculosis, having high bacterial levels, worse outcomes, or spreading the infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11372573 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses DNA from people with pulmonary TB and from their TB bacteria to look for gene differences that matter. It combines long-term clinical and epidemiological records from cohorts in Vietnam and Uganda with modern sequencing of both the host and the pathogen. Scientists will analyze host and bacterial genomes separately and together to find variants tied to disease, bacterial burden, and transmission. The goal is to use those findings to guide new vaccines, drugs, and point-of-care tests in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active pulmonary tuberculosis treated at or enrolled through participating clinics in Vietnam or Uganda who can provide samples and clinical information.
Not a fit: People without active TB (for example healthy volunteers or those with only latent TB), or patients outside the participating regions, are unlikely to benefit directly from enrollment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets for vaccines, drugs, or point-of-care tests that reduce TB deaths and poor outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous host-only or bacteria-only genetic studies have identified some links to TB risk and transmission, but combining paired host-pathogen genomic data across large cohorts is a newer approach that may reveal additional findings.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dunstan, Sarah Jane — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Dunstan, Sarah Jane
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.