HLA and BCG Vaccination

We attempt to study the immunogenetic of BCG in vaccinated Healthcare workers (HCWs) in Khartoum, 137 HCWs were selected for this study. It was found that alleles associated with TB-exposed group DRB1*0701, DRB1*1501, DQB1*0501, and DQB1*0301. DRB1*0701 and DQB1*0301 with high frequency among strong TST-positive group, DRB1*0701, and DQB1*0601 alleles were high frequency among moderate TST - positive group and DRB1*0701, DRB1*1501, DQB1*0601 alleles were high frequency among TST- negative group. Some of these alleles (DRB1*1501, DQB1*0701, DQB1*0301 were shown exclusively in TB-exposed subjects (100%). It seems that they act as susceptibility genes to TB. DRB1*0201 and DQB1*01 and DRB1*0301 alleles were found to be associated with the control group. This study group was categorized into three sub-groups based on the ethnic group: Nilotic, Nubian, and Kordufan and Darfur groups. DRB1*03, DRB1*13, DQB1*01, DQB1*04, DQB1*02, and DQB1*06 were exclusively found in the Nilotic tribes (100%). While DRB1*07 was exclusively found in Kordufan and Darfur tribes (100%), the DRB1*15 allele was higher (53.3%) among Nubian tribes.