DBT sequences 10,000 TB samples to combat drug resistance

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has announced that it has completed the genomic sequencing of 10,000 tuberculosis (TB) samples. This is part of a larger goal to sequence 32,500 samples by November 2025. The aim is to better understand drug-resistant TB in India. The project is called “Dare2eraD TB” and began in 2022. About 7% of the sequenced samples were found to be resistant to at least one TB drug. This effort is part of the Indian government’s broader mission to eliminate TB, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who aims to eradicate the disease in India by 2025. The DBT is working with several other organizations, including the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). All involved labs are part of a program called Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance. India currently has the highest number of diagnosed TB cases in the world, accounting for 28% of new TB cases globally. Despite progress, there are still significant challenges, particularly with drug-resistant forms of the disease. The DBT project has revealed that most TB cases are among people aged 18 to 45. Many of these individuals also face other health issues, such as diabetes and being underweight. Scientists hope that with advanced genomic data and artificial intelligence, they can reduce the time needed to confirm TB from three weeks to just one week.