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Researchers at Makerere University, Medical Department have published new data on tuberculosis
May 12th, 2008
2008 MAY 12 -- According to recent research from Kampala, Uganda, "Rubaga Division, Kampala, Uganda. To use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based regions of difference (RD) analysis to study the species diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from a community-based sample of tuberculosis (TB) patients from Rubaga and to perform long sequence polymorphism (LSP) analysis to further characterise the M. tuberculosis Uganda genotype, a group of strains previously recognised by their characteristic spoligotype patterns." "For the present study, 344 consecutive TB patients attending clinics in Rubaga Division were enrolled. Sample processing and culture were performed at the National Tuberculosis and Reference Laboratory and molecular assays at Makerere Medical School. Species identification was achieved by determining the RDs, while spoligotyping and LSP analysis were performed to characterise the M. tuberculosis Uganda genotype. Of the 344 isolates, 343 (99.7%) were M. tuberculosis sensu stricto, while one was classical M. bovis," wrote B.B. Asiimwe and colleagues, Makerere University, Medical Department. The researchers concluded: "The Uganda genotype strains characteristically lacked RD724, a locus that defines one of the major sublineages of M. tuberculosis, which suggested that this geographically constrained lineage is specifically adapted to a central African human host population. M. tuberculosis is the most prevalent species of the M. tuberculosis complex in Kampala, and the Uganda genotype is the predominant strain." Asiimwe and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (Mycobacterium tuberculosis Uganda genotype is the predominant cause of TB in Kampala, Uganda. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2008;12(4):386-391). For additional information, contact M.L. Joloba, Makerere University, School Medical, Dept. of Med Microbiology, POB 7072, Kampala, Uganda. Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease is: International Union Against Tuberculosis Lung Disease (I U a T L D), 68 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, France. Keywords: Uganda, Kampala, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Enzyme Research, Genotyping, Infectious Disease, Lung Disease, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Polymerase, Makerere University, Medical Department. This article was prepared by Proteomics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Proteomics Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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