Blood RNA signature RISK4LEP predicts leprosy years before clinical onset.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is often late- or misdiagnosed leading to irreversible disabilities. Blood transcriptomic biomarkers that prospectively predict those who progress to leprosy (progressors) would allow early diagnosis, better treatment outcomes and facilitate interventions aimed at stopping bacterial transmission. To identify potential risk signatures of leprosy, we collected whole blood of household contacts (HC, n=5,352) of leprosy patients, including individuals who were diagnosed with leprosy 4-61 months after sample collection.

Methods

We investigated differential gene expression (DGE) by RNA-Seq between progressors before presence of symptoms (n=40) and HC (n=40), as well as longitudinal DGE within each pro

SUBMITTER: Tio-Coma M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8182229 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature