Drug-resistant strains a major hurdle in eradicating TB

Despite a 17.7 per cent decline in India’s tuberculosis (TB) incidence — from 237 per 1,00,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023 — drug-resistant strains remain a major hurdle in eradicating the disease.

In a significant step towards combating drug-resistant TB, the GenomeIndia Project, supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), has completed the genome sequencing of 10,249 mycobacterial isolates. The initiative aims to improve treatment strategies by identifying genetic mutations that make TB resistant to standard drugs.

Of the total TB strains in India, 24 per cent are drug-resistant, occurring when the bacteria mutate and no longer responds to conventional medication. Mycobacterial isolates — samples collected from TB patients — were taken from 18,984 persons aged 18-45 years, with 68.28 per cent males and 31.71 per cent females. The dominant TB strains in India belong to the Indo-Oceanic and East African-Indian lineages, and sequencing has shown a low prevalence of HIV-TB co-infection in the country.

Genome sequencing is part of a broader effort to map India’s genetic diversity, helping researchers understand how genetic variations influence disease susceptibility and drug responses across ethnic and regional groups. The UK, China and the US are other countries that have programmes to sequence at least 1,00,000 of their genomes.

Led by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the project involves 20 institutions across India. The long-term vision is to build a comprehensive genetic database to advance public health, medical innovations and personalised treatment strategies.

Unlike conventional tests that take weeks, genomic sequencing can identify drug resistance within hours or days, said Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh. Emphasising preventive healthcare, he called for greater public involvement in TB eradication efforts.

DBT Secretary Dr Rajesh S Gokhale highlighted the severity of TB’s impact on mortality and morbidity. “TB is curable, but once drug resistance sets in, challenges multiply. Insights from sequencing these 10,000 TB isolates must be integrated into diagnosis and drug resistance surveillance,” he said.

With India striving to eliminate TB by 2025, genomic sequencing could be a turning point in tackling the drug-resistant strains that threaten progress.

7.19 L TB patients notified in 100-day campaign

Under the 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, 12.97 crore people were screened for TB with over 7.19 lakh TB patients notified across India, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Monday. Nadda said the government’s TB elimination strategy is based on ‘whole of the society’ and ‘whole of the government’ approach. At the World TB Day summit, Nadda noted that TB treatment coverage in India has increased from 59% to 85%.