Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced on 24 of March, the successful completion of genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates of Mycobacterium TB, a breakthrough that could significantly improve TB diagnostics and drug resistance prediction.
The highlight is part of the Dare2eraD TB program, launched in March 2022, which includes the establishment of the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance (InTGS) Consortium, development of evidence-based treatment regimens for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, and exploration of host-directed therapies to complement anti-TB treatments.
Singh highlighted that this achievement marks a significant step in tackling multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The InTGS Consortium, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), aims to conduct whole-genome sequencing of over 32,000 TB isolates. This will help catalogue existing and emerging resistance mutations and analyse how different TB strains influence treatment outcomes.
An official statement emphasised that the data collected from these 10,000 genome sequences will help develop next-generation genomic tests for TB diagnosis, improving accuracy in identifying drug-resistant mutations. This advancement will also accelerate resistance profiling, reducing detection times from weeks to just hours or days.
By enabling personalised treatment regimens, the research could help reduce treatment failures and relapses, often associated with TB therapies. Singh also noted that the adoption of molecular diagnostic methods remains inconsistent due to socioeconomic disparities, and emphasised the need to integrate scientific innovations into real-world applications.
DBT Secretary Rajesh Gokhale stated that insights from the 10,000 genome sequences will play a crucial role in shaping efficient diagnostic pipelines and drug resistance surveillance for TB across different healthcare settings.
