Background

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) poses a significant health threat, particularly to children, with high mortality rates and long-term morbidity. Recent studies have highlighted the role of immunopathology in TBM outcomes, shedding light on potential pathways for more effective therapies. However, much of this research has focused on adults, leaving a critical gap in understanding the pediatric aspect of the disease.

Aims

The INTERCEPT Study specifically aims to:  

• Investigate specific metabolic pathways, such as tryptophan metabolism, and their genetic regulation in pediatric TBM. 
• Explore the role of metalloproteinases in TBM immunopathology and outcome. 
• Evaluate the therapeutic potential of aspirin in pediatric TBM and identify new treatment targets through the integration of large-scale clinical and omics data. 

Study Design

This study takes advantage of samples from other studies, such as SURE and PediPOT.