TB Sequel - Study of the clinical, microbiological and immunological factors leading to unfavorable pulmonary "outcome" in TB patients.

In general, the activities planned in this project serve to consolidate the achieved scientific and technical goals of the TB Sequel study and the TB Sequel network, as well as to further develop them in preparation for the planned application for a second funding period from 2023-2027. Another focus of this application is the integration and funding of measures that address the new epidemiological situation caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. This involves ensuring the continuous collection and analysis of TB outcome data (despite the pandemic) as well as the collection of additional Sars-Cov2 relevant data, which are essential for the analysis of the TB Sequel studies (such as Sars-Cov2 prevalence data or sero-status of all participants) or provide new important insights into a possible interaction of both infections TB and Covid-19, which is also relevant for the future scientific direction of the network. At the FZB, studies are being conducted on new clinical samples from TB-Sequel participants to clarify the question of relapse or reinfection. Furthermore, biomarkers are being sought that can provide information about inflammatory processes in the lungs of TB patients with an existing SARS-CoV 2 infection.