Molecular epidemiology

The working group deals with the genetic analysis of tuberculosis pathogens. It uses the latest techniques of DNA sequencing (next generation sequencing) to determine the distribution of individual TB strains based on gene sequences. The molecular epidemiological data are combined with traditional epidemiological data and can thus document the occurrence of TB strains and localise new, potentially dangerous, strains as early as possible. Another part of the work is focused on the genetic analysis of multiresistant tuberculosis strains. The group is developing new diagnostic tests for the rapid detection of resistance genes.