ArticlePloS one2012
Correlation of mycobacterium tuberculosis specific and non-specific quantitative Th1 T-cell responses with bacillary load in a high burden setting.
Article in PloS one, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 37 citations in OpenAlex.
- Antigen-specific Th1 cytokine markers and protection against tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis stratified by progression to active disease and sustained IGRA conversion.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Pooled it
- Xpert Ultra versus Xpert MTB/RIF for pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Xpert® MTB/RIF assay for pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014Pooled it
- Greater preexisting interferon γ responses to mycobacterial antigens and lower bacillary load during HIV-associated tuberculosis.The Journal of infectious diseases · 2013Trial
- Trial
- Diagnostic accuracy of smear microscopy, mycobacterial culture, and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosis of subclinical tuberculosis: a retrospective multicenter study.Microbiology spectrum · 2025Article
- Tissue-specific T cell profiles inFrontiers in tuberculosis · 2025Article
- Transcriptional profiling of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients provides insights into mechanisms ofEmerging microbes & infections · 2024Article
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells expressing CD153 inversely associate with bacterial load and disease severity in human tuberculosis.Mucosal immunology · 2021Article
- Value of serum cytokine biomarkers TNF-α, IL-4, sIL-2R and IFN-γ for use in monitoring bacterial load and anti-tuberculosis treatment progress.Cytokine: X · 2020Article
- Latent Tuberculosis Infection-associated Immunodiagnostic Test Responses as Biomarkers of Incipient Tuberculosis: Fruitful or Futile?American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine · 2020Article
- Depressed Gamma Interferon Responses and Treatment Outcomes in Tuberculosis Patients: a Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of clinical microbiology · 2018Article
- Interferon-gamma response to the treatment of active pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease · 2017Observational
- Changes in Host Cytokine Patterns of TB Patients with Different Bacterial Loads Detected Using 16S rRNA Analysis.PloS one · 2016Article
- Diagnostic values of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube assay carried out in China for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis.PloS one · 2015Article
- Article
- Variability in tuberculosis granuloma T cell responses exists, but a balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is associated with sterilization.PLoS pathogens · 2015Article
- Determinants of PCR performance (Xpert MTB/RIF), including bacterial load and inhibition, for TB diagnosis using specimens from different body compartments.Scientific reports · 2014Article
- Gamma interferon release assays for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2014Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMeasures of bacillary load in patients with tuberculosis (TB) may be useful for predicting and monitoring response to treatment. The relationship between quantitative T-cell responses and mycobacterial load remains unclear. We hypothesised that, in a HIV-prevalent high burden setting, the magnitude of mycobacterial antigen-specific and non-specific T-cell IFN-γ responses would correlate with (a) bacterial load and (b) culture conversion in patients undergoing treatment.
methodsWe compared baseline (n = 147), 2 (n = 35) and 6 month (n = 13) purified-protein-derivative (PPD) and RD1-specific (TSPOT.TB and QFT-GIT) blood RD1-specific (TSPOT.TB; QFT-GIT) responses with associates of sputum bacillary load in patients with culture-confirmed TB in Cape Town, South Africa.
resultsIFN-γ responses were not associated with liquid culture time-to-positivity, smear-grade, Xpert MTB/RIF-generated cycle threshold values or the presence of cavities on the chest radiograph in patients with culture-confirmed TB and irrespective of HIV-status. 2-month IGRA conversion rates (positive-to-negative) were negligible [<11% for TSPOT.TB (3/28) and QFT-GIT (1/29)] and lower compared to culture [60% (21/35); p<0.01].
conclusionsIn a high burden HIV-prevalent setting T-cell IFN-γ responses to M. tuberculosis-specific and non-specific antigens do not correlate with bacillary load, including Xpert MTB/RIF-generated C(T) values, and are therefore poorly suited for monitoring treatment and prognostication.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.