This project is still being set up because it was launched just recently this year, and is still a new project at the Institute.

The overall goal of the project is to contribute to improving tuberculosis control activities in both Japan and countries abroad through exploring epidemiological infection routes of M. tuberculosis bacilli by analyzing the DNA fingerprinting patterns.

The objectives in this fiscal year are as follows:
(1) To set up a database of all DNA fingerprinting patterns by the three key methods: IS6110-RFLP analysis, Spoligotyping method, and VNTR method at RIT,
(2) To set up a mechanism at RIT to feed back the DNA fingerprinting results rapidly to the field,
(3) To propose a standardized combination of the three DNA fingerprinting methods in the context of Japan,
(4) To summarize the ongoing population-based DNA fingerprinting studies in Okinawa Prefecture, Shinjuku-ku, and Kawasaki city, and
(5) To pursue the epidemiological modeling of TB infection in a community.

The expected outputs in this fiscal year are as follows:
(1) To set up a database of all DNA fingerprinting patterns by the three key methods: IS6110-RFLP analysis, Spoligotyping method, and VNTR method at RIT,
(2) To set up a mechanism at RIT to feed back the DNA fingerprinting results to the field within one month after receiving samples,
(3) To propose a standardized combination of the three DNA fingerprinting methods in the context of Japan and present it to all researchers concerned,
(4) To summarize the ongoing population-based DNA fingerprinting study in Okinawa Prefecture, Shinjuku-ku, and Kawasaki city and present it to all concerned, and
(5) To pursue the epidemiological modeling of TB infection in a community and present it to all concerned.


The members of the project this year are as follows:
OHKADO, A. (Project Leader, Department of Research)
MAEDA, S. (Head, TB Information Division, Mycobacterium Reference Center)
UCHIMURA, K. (Researcher, Department of Research)
MURASE, Y. (Researcher, TB Information Division, Mycobacterium Reference Center)
YAMADA, N. (Head, Planning and Management Division, Department of International Cooperation)

Published papers:
1) Itoh, S., Kazumi, Y., Abe, C., Takahashi, M. Heterogeneity of RNA polymerase gene (rpoB) sequence of Mycobacterium gordonae clinical isolates identified with a DNA Probe Kit and by conventional methods. J Clin Microbiol 2002; 41:1656-1663.
2) Takahashi, M. Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Its Accomplishment and Future Perspective (in Japanese, abstract is available in English). Kekkaku 2002; 11:741-752.
3) Okinawa Prefectural Tuberculosis Surveillance Committee. Utility of RFLP Analysis for Tuberculosis Case Management in Okinawa Prefecture (in Japanese, abstract is available in English). Nihon Koushu Eisei Zasshi 2003; 50:339-348.
4) Ito, K., Takahashi, M., Yoshiyama, T. et al. Multi-Drug Resistant Lung Tuberculosis due to Double Infection of MDR Strain (in Japanese, abstract is available in English). Kekkaku 2004; 79:387-390.
5) Hirano, K., Aono, A., Takahashi, M., et al. Mutations　including IS6110 insertion in the gene encoding the MPB64 protein of Capilia TB-negative Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates.　J Clin　Microbiol 2004; 42:390-2.