Integrating pathogen- and host-derived blood biomarkers for enhanced tuberculosis diagnosis: a comprehensive review

Zhaodong Li; Yunlong Hu; Wenfei Wang; Fa Zou; Jing Yang; Wei Gao; SiWan Feng; Guanghuan Chen; Chenyan Shi; Yi Cai; Guofang Deng; Xinchun Chen

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1438989

Integrating pathogen- and host-derived blood biomarkers for enhanced tuberculosis diagnosis: a comprehensive review

Front Immunol. 2024 Aug 9:15:1438989. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1438989. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Zhaodong Li^{1

2}, Yunlong Hu¹, Wenfei Wang³, Fa Zou¹, Jing Yang¹, Wei Gao¹, SiWan Feng¹, Guanghuan Chen¹, Chenyan Shi⁴, Yi Cai¹, Guofang Deng⁵, Xinchun Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
² Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, China.
³ National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
⁴ Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
⁵ Guangdong Key Lab for Diagnosis & Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Abstract

This review explores the evolving landscape of blood biomarkers in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), focusing on biomarkers derived both from the pathogen and the host. These biomarkers provide critical insights that can improve diagnostic accuracy and timeliness, essential for effective TB management. The document highlights recent advancements in molecular techniques that have enhanced the detection and characterization of specific biomarkers. It also discusses the integration of these biomarkers into clinical practice, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize TB diagnostics by enabling more precise detection and monitoring of the disease progression. Challenges such as variability in biomarker expression and the need for standardized validation processes are addressed to ensure reliability across different populations and settings. The review calls for further research to refine these biomarkers and fully harness their potential in the fight against TB, suggesting a multidisciplinary approach to overcome existing barriers and optimize diagnostic strategies. This comprehensive analysis underscores the significance of blood biomarkers as invaluable tools in the global effort to control and eliminate TB.

Keywords: biomarker; blood test; molecular diagnosis; mycobacterium tuberculosis; tuberculosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomarkers* / blood
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* / immunology
Tuberculosis* / blood
Tuberculosis* / diagnosis

Substances

Biomarkers

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was funded by the Shenzhen Medical Research Fund (Grant No. A2304001), National Key Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2022YFC2302901), Shenzhen Peacock Team (Grant No. KQTD20210811090219022), Shenzhen Basic Research (Key Project, Grant No. JCYJ20220818095610021), Shenzhen Major Technological Breakthrough Project (Grant No. JSGG20220822095200001), Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong (Grant No. 2022A1515220034), Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Foundation (Grant No. JCYJ20210324094614038/JCYJ20220530160207015).