At the Kenya Research Station of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, the Biotube project led by Assistant Professor Hikone and Associate Professor Saito has commenced. Dr. Hikone, a physician and researcher, is striving to develop novel diagnostic methods specifically targeting extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Based at Kenyatta National Hospital and Mbagathi County Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, the project is enrolling a large number of extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients, aiming for an unprecedented scale of study.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis accounts for 20–30% of all tuberculosis cases and poses a serious challenge, especially in regions where HIV is widespread. While diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis has advanced significantly thanks to fully automated nucleic acid amplification tests (GeneXpert MTB/RIF) using sputum, extrapulmonary tuberculosis cannot be tested with sputum, making rapid diagnosis extremely difficult and a major concern.
To address this, the project is working to establish innovative diagnostic methods by harnessing CRISPR technology, sample concentration techniques, and novel biomarkers.
Under the leadership of Assistant Professor Hikone, the Kenya station has spent a year building a comprehensive tuberculosis testing system. With its BSL3 facility, it is now equipped to perform culture, drug susceptibility testing, genetic testing, and whole genome sequencing. Currently, a team consisting of three laboratory technologists and two research medical officers (local staff) is conducting patient enrollment and sample processing.
The project involves collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the Research Institute of Tuberculosis of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA), Nagasaki University, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, while also making partnerships with private companies such as Towns Co., Panasonic Healthcare, and Advance Sentinel, which serve as important pillars of the initiative.
The Kenya Research Station of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University aims to become Japan’s largest overseas clinical research hub for tuberculosis and to play a central international role in extrapulmonary tuberculosis research.
