Biomarkers for Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Monitoring: A Review of Translational Progress
Olabisi Promise Lawal
*
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
Olufemi Adesola Adedayo
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, School of Natural Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States.
Sokoya Itunuoluwa Dorcas
Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Olukunle O. Akanbi
National Louis University 6550 W Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL 33634, United States.
Bostock Chinecherem Okafor
College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.
Ikechukwu kanu
Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States.
Precious Esong Sone
East Carolina University, United States.
John Opeyemi Patrick
Laboratory Department, St. Gerard's Catholic Hospital, Nigeria.
Fabiyi, Taiwo Oluwole
Bioinformatics, University of Maryland Global Campus, United States.
Bankole Israel ADEYEMI
Director Medical Laboratory Services, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Akure, Nigeria.
Edo Elvis Oziegbe
Chem-Heme (Core Lab) Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina. United States.
Abdullateef M. Busari
Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) still presents a major threat to public health, and accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis, monitoring TB treatment, as well as TB drug resistance are still challenging goals. Research in biomarkers—both host, pathogen pathogen-derived—has led to novel frontiers in the diagnosis and management of TB. These advancements contribute to faster diagnosis, customized treatment plans, and better monitoring of response to therapy. Direct pathogen-based markers, such as M. tuberculosis DNA, lipoarabinomannan (LAM), and mycobacterial proteins, that directly demonstrate infection, have the most potential, particularly in resource-poor settings. Cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), are endogenous biomarkers that mirror responses of the immune system and may play a role in the management of treatment, especially in immunocompromised populations, such as patients with HIV. These progresses notwithstanding, the application of a biomarker-centered approach on a large scale remains a major obstacle, due to technical, economic, and regulatory constraints. Furthermore, various performances among the biomarkers in different populations limit clinical utility. Future studies in this area should aim to create point-of-care diagnostics, multi-biomarker panels, and to integrate the device with digital health technology platforms for real-time monitoring. These methods have the potential to substantially improve TB control, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. If current challenges can be overcome and research horizons broadened, biomarker-driven diagnosis and monitoring strategies may have key contributions in global TB control.
Keywords: Tuberculosism, diagnosis, public health, monitoring TB treatment