Rapid test to detect TB resistant to fluoroquinolones, bedaquiline, and linezolid
Point of care detection of fluroquinolone, bedaquiline and linezolid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis for rapid treatment decisions.
A point-of-care test is being made to quickly find TB bacteria that are resistant to key drugs so people with TB can get the right treatment sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258882 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to create a quick, clinic-friendly test that can spot many different genetic changes that make TB resistant to important drugs. The team will adapt the widely used Cepheid cartridge and design mismatch-tolerant molecular probes to detect hundreds of resistance-linked mutations. They will validate the assay using clinical samples and compare results to standard laboratory methods to ensure accuracy. If the test works as planned, it could be used where I get care to guide treatment faster and avoid ineffective drugs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected or confirmed TB—especially those with prior TB treatment, treatment failure, or other risk factors for drug resistance—would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without TB or those whose resistance arises from mechanisms not detectable by the genetic targets used by the test may not get direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could choose effective TB drugs faster, reducing delays, limiting harm from ineffective treatments, and slowing the spread of drug-resistant TB.
How similar studies have performed: Existing molecular tests (like Cepheid Xpert) already detect resistance to isoniazid and rifampin and some fluoroquinolone mutations, but using molecular tests to detect bedaquiline and linezolid resistance is a newer and less established approach.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alland, David — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Alland, David
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.