Make genome the norm

For India to meet its target of TB eradication by 2025, it will have to make rapid strides in using whole genome sequencing to its full potential

- Mohit Sharma

Rohit Kumar had lost all hope. All anti-tuberculosis drugs had stopped giving results for the 23-year-old from Delhi. As a last resort, his doctor asked him to undergo genome testing. Kumar (name changed) was found to be multidrug resistant (MDR). Fortunately, he had not reached the extensive drug-resistant stage. He was immediately put on a new drug regime and is now on the road to recovery. Like Kumar, there are several TB patients who are benefiting from genome sequencing, which helps to make the right diagnosis at the right time.

“Genomics is the future of effective tuberculosis diagnosis,” says Gunisha Pasricha, principal scientist, infectious disease expert, MedGenome, a genomics research and drug development organisation. “With advanced techniques like culturefree, whole genome sequencing (WGS), we are gradually progressing towards overcoming the challenges around accurate and timely diagnosis of tuberculosis.” As per a paper titled, ‘WGS of Mycobacterium TB Isolates from India’, published in Frontiers in Microbiology, “WGS of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtB) has been constructive in understanding its evolution, genetic diversity and the mechanisms involved in drug resistance.” The study highlighted the immense significance of employing WGS in diagnosis as well as treatment.