Complex genetics of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Three new studies have used whole-genome sequencing of M. tuberculosis to demonstrate unexpected complexity in the modern evolution of drug-resistant tuberculosis, and a fourth study suggests a close evolutionary relationship between the pathogen and its human host over a period of 70,000 years. Collectively, the observations in these studies suggest that future strategies to tackle drug-resistant tuberculosis must integrate host genetics with detailed strain epidemiology.
Medical Research Council (MRC)-National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)-University of Cape Town Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit and Department of Science and Technology (DST)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
Digby F
DF
Warner
Valerie
V
Mizrahi
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001089:Arabinose / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics*; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004977:Ethambutol; D001089:Arabinose