Genome Research for Asian Tuberculosis (GReAT).

Aims and objectives: To establish a Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome database in collaboration with Asian countries, and to utilise the data for genotypic drug susceptibility and testing molecular epidemiology Methods: M. tuberculosis isolates collected in each participating country based on drug resistance and/or prevalence survey was collected as bacteria or genomic DNA, and whole genome sequencing was performed using Illumina sequencers. As a meta-data, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST) data were collected for each isolate. Results: Approximately 5,000 genome data has been collected from Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Approximately 75% of isolates belonged to lineage 2.2.1. Base on the MIC and mutations/indels data, some confident mutations/indels were identified. With the data, the sensitivity of genetic DST for pyrazinamide was increased from 60.1% to 97.2% without losing specificity. Conclusions: Genome database will be a basis of genotypic DST and molecular epidemiology. However, the confidence of meta-data including MIC and other clinical information will be the key factor of genome database. In addition, genome data solution programme/software will be of great importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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