Global dissemination of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis W-Beijing family strains

• Published in: Trends in Microbiology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 45 - 52
• Main Authors: Bifani, Pablo J., Mathema, Barun, Kurepina, Natalia E., Kreiswirth, Barry N.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 2002
• Subjects: Beijing family; Far East - epidemiology; Genetic Variation - genetics; genotyping; Humans; M. tuberculosis; Molecular Epidemiology; multi-drug; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - classification; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - genetics; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - growth & development; strain W; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis - microbiology; United States - epidemiology; USSR - epidemiology; Far East; United States; USSR; Asia; North America; molecular epidemiology; Microbiology; Techniques & Methods; strain W; genotyping; multi-drug; Beijing family; Molecular Medicine; Ecology; M. tuberculosis
• ISSN: 0966-842X; 1878-4380
• DOI: 10.1016/S0966-842X(01)02277-6

A large, genetically related group of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, variously called W or Beijing, is distinguished by specific molecular markers and referred to as the W-Beijing family strains. Molecular epidemiological studies suggest that these strains are highly prevalent throughout Asia and the countries of the former Soviet Union and they have also been reported in several other geographical regions, including North America. Although the spread of W-Beijing family strains in diverse populations is well documented, the underlying host–pathogen factors accounting for their continued dissemination and burden of disease have yet to be determined.
Molecular epidemiology is being used to understand the W-Beijing family strains of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and their sucessful expansion in the human population.