Transcriptomic response to latent TB treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Latent tuberculosis infection: evaluating the transcriptomic response to treatment
IRAS ID
207172
Contact name
DAJ Moore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) affects up to 2 billion people worldwide and carries a 10% lifetime risk of progressing to active disease, which causes symptoms and is potentially infectious. Eliminating LTBI through preventive therapy with antibiotics reduces this reservoir of potential future TB cases.
While there are effective drug regimens for drug-susceptible LTBI, treatment courses are lengthy and there are no established treatments for suspected drug-resistant LTBI. Assessing new treatments is challenging as there is currently no “test of cure”. Currently, treatment trials require large groups of patients to be followed up over many months or years. This is costly and very time-consuming.
Blood transcriptional profiling (Transcriptomics) is a way of using genetic fingerprints to measure the body's response to infections, including TB. It has also been used to study the body's response to antibiotic treatments for infections. In this study, we will look to see if Transcriptomics can be used to study the body's response to antibiotic treatment for latent TB. If we find a specific genetic fingerprint that corresponds to successful treatment, we might one day use this to help us evaluate new treatments for latent TB.
In this study, we will take blood samples from 40 adult patients in TB clinic who are undergoing standard treatment (3 months) for latent TB. We will also give a two week course of the same antibiotics to 5 healthy controls. We will compare blood samples at different points in their treatment, looking to see if there are any changes in their transcriptional profiles (genetic fingerprints).
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1206
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion