Mycobacterium Tuberculosis transmission dynamics among university students in Ethiopia: a whole genome sequencing study.

Where TB occurs in high incidence settings like Ethiopia its transmission is not well studied, as traditional research methods struggle to distinguish the large number of transmission chains in these settings due to insufficient resolution. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a new powerful technology for characterisation of bacterial genomes and has been successfully used to investigate M. tuberculosis isolates associated with TB outbreaks and to establish the transmission link between the index and contact cases. WGS also has the potential to identify and characterise source cases that are particularly effective in generating secondary cases. We will use WGS sequencing methods and novel phylogenetic approaches to study the dynamic and location of TB transmission in the Ethiopian university environment. We will also characterise the identified transmission clusters in terms of correlated social and demographic factors. A better understanding of hotspot transmission locations, and methods to identify and characterise source cases therein, are urgently required to improve tuberculosis control in the Ethiopian university setting.

Keywords:GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

Disciplines:Bioinformatics of disease, Epidemiology