SCIENTISTS IN Britain have found a unique pattern of gene activity, or immune signature, in the blood of patients with tuberculosis.
This genetic marker could lead to the first blood test that can predict which tuberculosis carriers will develop the full-blown disease and become infectious. About one-t
hird of the world’s population, according to estimates, is infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the majority of them are latent carriers. Only 10 per cent of them face a lifetime risk of developing active TB disease. Latent carriers cannot transmit TB bacteria to others. There are blood tests to identify latent carriers, but there is no way of identifying latent carriers who are likely to develop full-blown tuberculosis during their lifetime and become contagious. Scientists hope the discovery will pave the way to new vaccines and treatments.