Context: The Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology has completed the genomic sequencing of 10,000 samples of the bacterium behind tuberculosis (TB).
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Data-Driven Research to Eradicate TB (Dare2eraD TB) Initiative; TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
Data-Driven Research to Eradicate TB (Dare2eraD TB) Initiative
- Genome sequencing initiative to detect drug-resistant TB and capture unique features of the TB bacterium.
- Launched in: 2022
- Target: Genome sequencing of 32,500 samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, across India.
- Aim: To improve the understanding of drug-resistant TB and capture unique genomic features of the bacterium in India.
- Of the 10,000 samples sequenced as part of the DBT project, 7% were reportedly resistant to a single drug.
- Nine labs of the DBT, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are involved in the programme, as part of a consortium called Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance.
Significance:
- Data-driven research to eradicate TB: Genomic dataset developed has potential to revolutionise TB diagnostics and drug resistance prediction:
- Improve diagnostic accuracy
- Enable faster resistance profiling,
- Develop advanced tests and reduce the time taken to confirm TB to from weeks to mere hours or days.
- Tailor treatment regimens to individual patient needs.
- Reduce the risk of treatment failure or relapse.
Key Status of Tuberculosis in India
- India has the highest number of diagnosed TB cases globally.
- As per the latest estimates, India had 1,990 cases per million in 2022, down from 2,370 per million in 2015.
- India accounts for about 28% of new TB cases worldwide.
- Those with ‘latent’ or asymptomatic TB could be potentially up to 3,000 per million.
- India has the target to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025. This is five years ahead of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target of 2030.
- In WHO parlance:
- Eradicating a disease means bringing the number of cases close to zero.
- Eliminating TB means getting the number down to about one in a million.
TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan:
- The 100-day TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan started on December 7, 2024.
- Under the campaign, over 13 lakh Nikshay Shivirs, or community screening and awareness camps were organised.
- Vital screening and diagnostic services to remote and underserved areas: using handheld X-ray units and upfront Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT).
- 12.97 crore people were screened for TB, with over 7 lakh TB patients notified across India in the 100-day campaign.
Also Read: India to roll out new treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB
With India accounting for a significant portion of the global TB burden, this breakthrough in genome sequencing is expected to bolster national and global efforts to combat the disease.