Latest Innovations in Tb Treatment and Prevention

This AI-powered ultrasound diagnoses pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) 9% better than human experts. A recent study at ESCMID Global 2025 revealed that the ULTR-AI suite significantly outperforms human doctors in diagnosing TB. At first glance, 9% seems small. But in healthcare, that's the difference between thousands of lives saved. Here's why this innovation excites me: 1. TB is still rising and access remains the biggest barrier Despite global efforts, TB cases rose 4.6% from 2020-2023. In high-burden regions, expensive equipment and specialist shortages mean 40% of patients never return for results. 2. ULTR-AI sets new accuracy standards With 93% sensitivity and 81% specificity, it beats WHO standards and catches early TB signs that experienced doctors might miss. 3. Proven in resource-limited settings Tested in Benin with 504 patients (38% TB-positive), it maintained performance despite power cuts and limited connectivity. 4. Mobile diagnostics for the hardest-to-reach patients By connecting portable ultrasound to smartphones, ULTR-AI eliminates the need for fixed infrastructure - a game-changer for rural communities. 5. Solving the follow-up gap Once integrated into an app, patients get instant results, addressing the 40-60% loss-to-follow-up issue I've seen across health systems. I've spent two decades in healthtech, and what impresses me most is that ULTR-AI addresses the entire diagnostic journey - from real-time results to overcoming infrastructure challenges. But the real test will be scaling this beyond controlled studies. The global diagnostics market is set to hit $150B by 2030 - and this might make a place for itself. What other health challenges do you think could benefit from smartphone-connected AI? #ai #healthcare #innovation #startups

#mRNACV2, encoding the M. tuberculosis CysVac2 fusion protein, was encapsulated in LNP and studied as a standalone TB vaccine or as a booster to BCG in mice. Vaccination with mRNACV2 induced high frequencies of polyfunctional, antigen-specific Th1 CD4+ T cells in the blood and lungs, which was associated with the rapid recruitment of both innate and adaptive immune cells to lymph nodes draining the site of immunisation. mRNACV2 vaccination also provided significant pulmonary protection in M. tuberculosis-infected mice, reducing bacterial load and inflammatory infiltration in the lungs. Importantly, mRNACV2 enhanced immune responses and long-term protection when used to boost BCG-primed mice.

How bacterial cords spread tuberculosis. A groundbreaking study reveals how Mycobacterium tuberculosis forms resilient cords within host cells, opening the way for a deeper understanding and innovative treatment of tuberculosis. EPFL, Switzerland. Published: 27 November 2023. Excerpt: Tuberculosis is a lung disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium (Mtb). According to WHO, tuberculosis afflicts 10 million people globally and claims 1.5 million lives. It is the leading cause of death among HIV patients, and a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. A quarter of the global population is estimated to harbor Mtb but not develop the disease. One of the peculiarities of Mtb, discovered in the 1940’s, is that it grows into “cords” inside the cells it infects – especially alveolar cells of the lungs that handle oxygen exchange in the body. The Mtb cords are biofilms, characteristic structures that many bacteria species form to survive and proliferate (a well-known example is tooth plaque). Note: The Mtb cords grow within infected cells, and are connected to the bacterium’s virulence and the persistence of the infection. Understanding the mechanics is critical for devising strategies to combat tuberculosis more effectively. A new study led by researchers at EPFL sheds light on formation and function of Mtb cords in alveolar cells. The findings significantly increase understanding of tuberculosis pathology and could help develop novel treatment strategies. Published in Cell, the study was led by Vivek Thacker in the group of John McKinney at EPFL’s School of Life Sciences. Researchers looked at the mechanopathology of Mtb cords. To this, they used an advanced a microengineered biochip “lung-on-a-chip”, which mimics the structure and function of human lung tissues. Combined with mouse models, the team was able to mimic early stages of TB infection and get a closer look at how individual Mtb bacteria grow into cords within alveolar cells in the lungs. The approach revealed five major aspects of Mtb cords. First, they are “high-aspect-ratio” structures, which means length is considerably longer than width: they are long, thin threads. This shape is essential for understanding mechanopathology and behavior of cords within host cells during tuberculosis infection. Publication: Cell October 20, 2023 Mechanopathology of biofilm-like Mycobacterium tuberculosis cords https://lnkd.in/eYdebiYh

Artemisia Afra & Tuberculosis Post Series: Breaking Research In order to spread awareness about recent advances in medicinal plants & natural products science, this post series is intended to highlight some of the recently published research in the literature.  Today’s highlight:   An O-methylflavone from Artemisia afra kills non-replicating hypoxic Mycobacterium tuberculosis.  Kellogg JJ, Alonso MN, Jordan RT, Xiao J, Cafiero JH, Bush T, Chen X, Towler M, Weathers P, Shell SS. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Oct 28;333:118500. Epub 2024 Jun 27. PMID: 38944359   This research investigates a compound, an O-methylflavone isolated from Artemisia afra, and its efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis under low-oxygen, non-replicating conditions—similar to latent TB infections. O-methylflavone demonstrated the ability to kill hypoxic TB cells effectively, suggesting its potential as a promising alternative or adjunct in TB treatment, particularly for drug-resistant or latent forms. The findings support further exploration of Artemisia afra derivatives as viable options in addressing tuberculosis.   Full Text Link: https://lnkd.in/grw69YMS   #medicinalplants #naturalproducts #research