Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32781412›Full record

ArticleTuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)2020

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific plasmablast levels are differentially modulated in tuberculosis infection and disease.

Awa Gindeh, Olumuyiwa Owolabi, Simon Donkor, Jayne S Sutherland

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.1field-weighted citation impact, top 53% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Tuberculosis treatment and cytotoxic immune signatures: a longitudinal study.Journal of clinical tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Awa GindehVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia.
Olumuyiwa OwolabiVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia.
Simon DonkorVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia.
Jayne S SutherlandVaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia. Electronic address: jsutherland@mrc.gm.
MRC Unit the Gambia · GM

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_U190071468Medical Research Council MC_UP_A900_1122
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile T cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have been extensively studied, the role of B-cells and antibodies are less well characterised. The aim of this study was to assess levels of Mtb-specific IgG + plasmablasts across the Mtb infection spectrum.

methodsPatients with active TB were analysed at baseline and 6 months of therapy (n = 20).Their exposed household contacts (HHC) included individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI; n = 20); evident at baseline; individuals with a negative Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) at baseline who became; positive at 6 months (converters; n = 11) and those who remained negative (non-converters; n = 10). An e x-vivo B-cell ELISPOT was performed to analyse plasmablast responses.

resultsFrequencies of ESAT-6/CFP-10 (EC)- but not Whole Cell Lysate (WCL)-specific plasmablasts were significantly higher in patients with active TB pre-treatment compared to post-treatment (p = 0.002) and compared to HHC with LTBI (p < 0.0001). Conversely, total IgG + plasmablasts were significantly decreased in TB patients at baseline. No difference was seen in levels of plasmablasts between TST converters and non-converters at baseline.

conclusionsWe show that EC-specific plasmablast levels are differentially modulated during TB infection and disease, with levels highest during active TB. These data provide new insights into TB biomarker development and avenues for novel immune interventions.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAntigens, BacterialAntitubercular AgentsBacterial ProteinsB-Lymphocyte SubsetsEnzyme-Linked Immunospot AssayFemaleGambiaHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedMycobacterium tuberculosisPilot ProjectsPredictive Value of TestsAntigens, BacterialAntitubercular AgentsBacterial ProteinsCFP-10 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosisESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosisESAT-6/CFP10ImmunologyMtb infection spectrumPlasmablasts

Identifiers

PMID32781412
PMCPMC7545693
OpenAlexW3046447525

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.