TY - JOUR
T1 - Learning from epidemiological, clinical, and immunological studies on Mycobacterium africanum for improving current understanding of host–pathogen interactions, and for the development and evaluation of diagnostics, host-directed therapies, and vaccines for tuberculosis
AU - Zumla, Alimuddin
AU - Otchere, Isaac Darko
AU - Mensah, Gloria Ivy
AU - Asante-Poku, Adwoa
AU - Gehre, Florian
AU - Maeurer, Markus
AU - Bates, Matthew
AU - Mwaba, Peter
AU - Ntoumi, Francine
AU - Yeboah-Manu, Dorothy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Author(s)
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - Mycobacterium africanum comprises two phylogenetic lineages within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). M. africanum was first described and isolated in 1968 from the sputum of a Senegalese patient with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and it has been identified increasingly as an important cause of human TB, particularly prevalent in West Africa. The restricted geographical distribution of M. africanum, in contrast to the widespread global distribution of other species of MTBC, requires explanation. Available data indicate that M. africanum may also have important differences in transmission, pathogenesis, and host–pathogen interactions, which could affect the evaluation of new TB intervention tools (diagnostics and vaccines)–those currently in use and those under development. The unequal geographical distribution and spread of MTBC species means that individual research findings from one country or region cannot be generalized across the continent. Thus, generalizing data from previous and ongoing research studies on MTBC may be inaccurate and inappropriate. A major rethink is required regarding the design and structure of future clinical trials of new interventions. The West, Central, East, and Southern African EDCTP Networks of Excellence provide opportunities to take forward these pan-Africa studies. More investments into molecular, epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and immunological studies across the African continent are required to enable further understanding of host–M. africanum interactions, leading to the development of more specific diagnostics, biomarkers, host-directed therapies, and vaccines for TB.
AB - Mycobacterium africanum comprises two phylogenetic lineages within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). M. africanum was first described and isolated in 1968 from the sputum of a Senegalese patient with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and it has been identified increasingly as an important cause of human TB, particularly prevalent in West Africa. The restricted geographical distribution of M. africanum, in contrast to the widespread global distribution of other species of MTBC, requires explanation. Available data indicate that M. africanum may also have important differences in transmission, pathogenesis, and host–pathogen interactions, which could affect the evaluation of new TB intervention tools (diagnostics and vaccines)–those currently in use and those under development. The unequal geographical distribution and spread of MTBC species means that individual research findings from one country or region cannot be generalized across the continent. Thus, generalizing data from previous and ongoing research studies on MTBC may be inaccurate and inappropriate. A major rethink is required regarding the design and structure of future clinical trials of new interventions. The West, Central, East, and Southern African EDCTP Networks of Excellence provide opportunities to take forward these pan-Africa studies. More investments into molecular, epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and immunological studies across the African continent are required to enable further understanding of host–M. africanum interactions, leading to the development of more specific diagnostics, biomarkers, host-directed therapies, and vaccines for TB.
KW - Africa
KW - Diagnostics
KW - EDCTP
KW - Host
KW - Mycobacterium africanum
KW - Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
KW - TB
KW - Vaccines
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009443010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.12.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.12.003
M3 - Review article
C2 - 27979782
AN - SCOPUS:85009443010
SN - 1201-9712
VL - 56
SP - 126
EP - 129
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
ER -