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Resistance to Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in South Africa: Immunologic Profiling

Despite significant exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), some humans remain uninfected, as defined by persistently negative immune sensitization tests (tuberculin skin test, TST; interferon gamma release assays, IGRA). To explore mechanisms of natural resistance to Mtb infection, we profiled tissues from highly-exposed Mtb contacts from South Africa. The cohort in this submission were gold miners in South Africa who had worked in the mining industry ≥ 15 years with presumed high Mtb exposure, based on extreme tuberculosis incidence rates and high prevalence of latent Mtb infection (Chihota et al. 2022, PMID: 35302992; Ntshiqa et al. 2021, doi: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13191.1). TST and IGRA testing were performed at enrollment of gold miners, some of whom remained available for repeat testing at 12 months.