In the article the World Health Organization states that in 2013 TB killed approximately 1.5 million out of the 9 million that were affected that year. Just as with any other disease over time it develops resistance to the treatments, therefore new research always need to be continuously done. Dr. Nejentsev and his team try and do just this. They decided to study the genome for 5,500 people with TB compared to 5,600 people without TB. They found a gene on chromosome eight known as ASAP1 that had two different forms, one being more protective against TB and the other less protective. They believe with more research in the future they will be able to make vaccines to target the ASAP1 immune pathways to protect against TB.
I believe with further research this study can help protect against TB and stop it from continuously spreading. Hopefully this study can also help find treatments for other diseases relating to immune pathways.
Interesting, TB has always been a serious illness and patients can only be helped with vigorous medical attention, many doses of medicine, and isolation so it cannot spread. If they can target the immune pathways to work against TB- it could save a lot of lives.
ReplyDelete