Some global estimates regarding clinical versus microbiologically confirmed TB in this article: PMID: 41501491
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-04097-5
15.02.2026 23:34
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Some global estimates regarding clinical versus microbiologically confirmed TB in this article: PMID: 41501491
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-04097-5
1/📢 In our new publication, we estimate that in 2022, 134 million people worldwide had a recent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and were at high risk of progressing to TB disease. Read the full paper in PLOS Medicine (tinyurl.com/mtbinfection). #TBSky
Congrats to @aschwalbc.bsky.social for bringing this work to the finish line!
In this mathematical modeling study, Alvaro Schwalb and colleagues estimate the global burden of viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis—that which can cause disease and be transmitted—to help guide disease prevention efforts 🧪 #tuberculosis #MedSky
plos.io/4aqzIQV
Always a treat to see the owl while cross country skiing on Mount Royal. Doesn't seem bothered by -12C
Ha! And yes. But are sponges the host, or are they just sponges, doing what sponges do?
I agree with everything said by @mycolates.bsky.social in this thread, except the penultimate sentence. To my eyes, figure shows that Mtb diverged from animal lineages after the blue box (loss of spacers). Whether their common ancestor was Mtb is uncertain. Prefer to call this 'MTBCo '.
How likely is ‘likely’? Does ‘likely’ have a higher probability than ‘probable’? I put together a quick quiz so you can see how you interpret probability phrases, then see how you compare with others: probability.kucharski.io
Thanks Gabriele!
Cool! In case I missed it ....can you post the link to article?
👇Great thread on TB strain concordance/strain discordance among household contacts. If I read correctly, findings from a 1998 small series from San Francisco consistent with the much greater analysis. ++ Implications for transmission and management of contacts.
Not as cold as much of Canada. And yes to the postdoc opportunity!
Are there positive and negative control tissues, eg from mouse or guinea pig infections, that can be used to pre-validate FISH before studying human samples? Without this, how does one know whether an assay is fit for purpose?
To see bacteria by FISH, does this imply at least 10(4) per g, akin to the threshold to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Auramine staining (5000-10,000 per mL)?
Excited to see the PhD work led by Sarah Danchuk published today. Virulence hierarchies within the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Thanks to all the authors and collaborators, and especially kudos to Sarah: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
It has been often observed that TB rates go up from childhood to adolescence, suggesting that children under 14 are relatively resistant and/or adolescents are more susceptible. Could the rise in incidence be explained instead by transmission effects you report?
Starting conversation for mycobacteria researchers. 1) mycobacteria have strange cell wall, 2) mycobacterial infections are hard to treat. Is 1) the CAUSE of 2)? For broad spectrum antibiotics that work (rifampin, levofloxacin, linezolid), do they get into mycobacteria at lower concentrations?
I thought it was going outside in winter without a hat....
Sihem Belhocine put this quote at the start of her thesis: "If many remedies are prescribed for an illness, you may be certain that the illness has no cure." Anton Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard, 1904 (the year he died of tuberculosis). Does this adage hold true in 2025?
Amazing thesis work led by Sarah Danchuk now submitted for review and posted as preprint: ssrn.com/abstract=51598…. Short summary: M. bovis & M. orygis manifest enhanced virulence compared to M. tuberculosis in natural host model (calves) and small animal model (mice).
Question to academics: I've been on several editorial boards before, but until now, never been asked by to sign a 16-page legal contract, including a section on my obligations. Unpaid role. Is this the new norm?
Hi Peter,
A further point. It's brilliant that UK publishes its M. Bovis data. Now that WHO and WOAH recognize that definition of zoonotic TB extends to M. Orygis as well, I would be curious to see the same type of data for M. Orygis cases. So far, just scattered case series, nothing systematic.
Thanks!
Hi Peter. I don't know about exposure. Harder to do in immigrants to e.g., Canada, Australia asking about exposure in country of birth. Maybe can be done in places where local exposure? Are there good data in the UK?
Compelling analysis suggesting that M:F difference in TB rates driven by differences in rates of Mtb infection. Consistent with old (2000) analysis of genotypic clustering (PMID: 10654640). But why do zoonotic TB series often have flipped ratios? doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae124
I believe most isolates from pre-2020. Resistance developing or already established?
Agree with treating Legionella. Where are the best data on macrolide treatment and outcome of CAP due to Mycoplasma?
A diagram of the screening and randomization process for household contacts included in the trial.
In this report, investigators assessed the efficacy of levofloxacin for the prevention of secondary cases of tuberculosis among household contacts of persons with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Full VQUIN MDR trial results: nej.md/41BHEf5
#MedSky #IDSky
Pre-XDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cattle. Plus some M. orygis academic.oup.com/ofid/advance...
Sarah Danchuk at PhD defense, presenting her favourite figure contrasting the host reservoirs of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.