The Tuberculosis Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory is primarily involved in the detection of transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in the city of Istanbul and its vicinity, by obtaining the DNA fingerprinting methods. Besides molecular epidemiology, researches on other issues of molecular mycobacteriology are going on as well. An IG(P)RA test based on the detection of IP10 levels in ESAT6- and CFP10-stimulated whole blood to diagnose latent TB has already been developed in our laboratory and in routine use for more than 3 years now. A brand-new species, Mycobacterium celeriflavum sp. nov is described together with Italian and Iranian collaborators in one of the research studies. Studies on developing new kits, which alleviate rapid detection of drug resistance (RIF, INH, OFX, etc) and rapid molecular identification are among the subject of interests of the laboratory. In addition to research activities, the laboratory has been assigned "the Upper Level Laboratory" of Istanbul Union Against Tuberculosis based on an agreement between Rectorate of Istanbul University and Istanbul Union Against Tuberculosis on February 17, 2010, thus is involved in diagnostic services on a routine-basis.

The Tuberculosis Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory is primarily involved in the detection of transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in the city of Istanbul and its vicinity, by obtaining the DNA fingerprints of Tuberculosis (TB) strains via molecular epidemiological typing methods (24-loci MIRU-VNTR typing, spoligotyping). Besides molecular epidemiology, research on other issues of molecular mycobacteriology are going on as well. An IG(P)RA test based on the detection of IP10 levels in ESAT6- and CFP10-stimulated whole blood to diagnose latent TB has already been developed in our laboratory and in routine use for more than 3 years now. A brand-new species, Mycobacterium celeriflavum sp. nov is described together with Italian and Iranian collaborators in one of the research studies. Studies on developing new kits, which alleviate rapid detection of drug resistance (RIF, INH, OFX, etc) and rapid molecular identification are among the subject of interests of the laboratory. In addition to research activities, the laboratory has been assigned "the Upper Level Laboratory" of Istanbul Union Against Tuberculosis based on an agreement between Rectorate of Istanbul University and Istanbul Union Against Tuberculosis on February 17, 2010, thus is involved in diagnostic services on a routine-basis.

Research Infrastructure of the Laboratory

The laboratory contains a broad spectrum of technologies to suit wide-ranging needs of scientific research.  A vast number of technical equipments ranging from light / flourescent microscobes for smear microscopy up to capillary electrophoresis and sequencers for fragment analysis and sequencing are within the reach of the laboratory's separate divisions.

Collaborations and Projects

  We have The description of new mycobacterial species -collaboration with Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, The detection and adaptation of Beijing genotype TB strains to human populations in Turkey -collaboration with Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, St Petersburg Pasteur Institute, St Petersburg, Russia, Genotypic diversity and characteristics of human disease caused by Mycobacterium caprae - collaboration with AGES, Oesterreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernaehrungssicherheit GmbH, Wien, Austria projects being progressed at our laboratory.