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Multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent tuberculosis: integral approach to rapid detection and evolution (MODERN TB DETECTION)
Start date: Feb 7, 2008, End date: Feb 6, 2009 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and hyper-virulent (HV) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains increasingly circulate worldwide and start to threat European and global health security. Rapid detection of these hazardous MTB variants presents the first step in fighting TB and is vital for both patient and community health. We propose a novel integral approach to tackle modern TB. We propose to develop a three-step strategy based on use of sensitive molecular techniques and including simultaneous (1) diagnosis of TB (2) detection of drug-resistant, and (3) hyper-virulent MTB strains.The obtained information will be used for timely prevention of TB including early diagnosis and adequate treatment of TB patients and prognosis of the eventual emergence of new hazardous strains in future. Understanding genetic basis of virulence in circulating strains will contribute to development of a new generation vaccine efficient against modern TB. Additionally, the project will further develop a novel basic concept proposed by th e Applicant about human/microbial co-evolution.The generated data with be compared with unique global databases at the Host laboratory in order:(1) to reconstruct global phylogeny of M. tuberculosis,(2) to better understand evolution and emergence of hyper-virulent M. tuberculosis,(3) to develop a quantitative approach to comparative analysis of human and microbial diversities and co-evolution that may be extended to other pathogens.A large MTB collection is already available at Host and Applicant's laboratories for this project that will bring together intellectual efforts and ideas of the Applicant with technical capacity and expertise of the Host. This project will be an excellent example of synergy in applied and basic research in Genomics for Health and Health Risks priorities of European Research Area that will be carried out in "less-favoured region" of EU (Guadeloupe) thus promoting its development.
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