# Predicting tuberculosis outcomes using genotypic and biomarker signatures

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 2022 · $659,272

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by an infectious pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) in susceptible
individuals, but we cannot yet classify or predict outcomes in those prone to pulmonary TB disease versus
those prone to resistance. In part, this reflects knowledge gaps regarding genotypes that may increase
susceptibility, and in validated disease correlates (e.g. serum of lung protein biomarkers) measured
individually, or combined signatures. We address these knowledge gaps by using Diversity Outbred (DO) mice,
a population with abundant genetic diversity and heterozygosity, like the human population. Also, like humans,
a low dose M.tb infection of DO mice produces a spectrum of outcomes, from highly susceptible to highly
resistant, and many intermediate outcomes. In this proposal, we use the DO population to: 1) Identify and test
the capacity of genotypic (alleles and statistically significant loci) to predict outcomes such as diagnostic
category (class); and 2) To identify and test lung and serum biomarker (protein) and granuloma signatures to
determine diagnostic category (class); and 3) To identify and test serum biomarker (protein) signatures that
can forecast disease onset, within a 3-week window before illness manifests clinically. The best performing
signatures will be tested using samples from humans. Collectively, results from these studies will generate new
translatable knowledge regarding correlates of pulmonary TB (useful for diagnostics), and genotypic and
serum protein signatures (useful for prognostics).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10320904
- **Project number:** 5R01HL145411-04
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** GILLIAN L BEAMER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $659,272
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-15 → 2022-06-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10320904

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10320904, Predicting tuberculosis outcomes using genotypic and biomarker signatures (5R01HL145411-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10320904. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*