Genome-wide analysis of blood gene expression profile at diagnosis and post treatment in latent TB and active TB subjects

Changes in the blood transcriptome upon treatment were studied in a cohort of 42 latent tuberculosis (TB) subjects and 8 active TB subiects. Samples were collected at diagnosis (prior the start of treatment) and post treatment and gene expression studied with Illumina microarrays. We hypothesize that individuals with latent TB at risk of developing active disease are immunologically closer to those with active TB and will thus display a blood transcriptomic signature similar to active TB subjects upon treatment. This signature should significantly differ from the one mounted by latent TB individuals at low risk of progression. Thus, monitoring blood transcriptomic changes following anti-TB therapy might inform on which latent TB subjects should be prioritized for receiving therapeutic intervention in order to prevent further transmission. Genome-wide microarray analysis of total RNA extracted from blood collected prior and post treament in latent TB and active TB subjects.