Centenary Institute TB researcher Dr Bernadette Saunders talks about tuberculosis and her team's research into genetic susceptibility

1. Unraveling the Mysteries of Tuberculosis Bernadette Saunders Host Response to Tuberculosis Mycobacterial Research

8. TB- The Risk Factors Host Genetic Mycobacterium Virulence Dose Other mycobacterial exposure Environment Poverty, crowding, social disorder Nutrition Infections – HIV

9. P2X7 Receptor and Control of TB P2X7 Receptor Highly expressed on White blood Cells that eat TB (macophages) Activation of this receptor is one mechanism of killing TB. Identified a single amino acid change in this receptor A1513  C Reduced killing of TB

10. Study to determine if the SNP in P2X7 increases susceptibility to TB Refugees from Southwest Sydney screened for LTBI upon arrival 24652 Latent TB 8609 Subjects with TB in NSW 119 13.6 year median follow up Enrolled in Liverpool genotyping study >200 active disease free subjects

11. 1513 C allele is associated with increased risk of developing TB AA (Normal) AC/CC (mutant) % with C Odds Ratio p Control 105 62 37 - - Extrapulmonary TB 9 21 70 4.0 .001

12. Vietnam-Australia TB Partnership Collect DNA from1500 TB patients and 1500 controls to screen for SNPs that may be associated with increased risk of developing TB. National Lung Hospital Hanoi

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