Preliminary remarks on assembly whole genome sequencing of MDR M. tuberculosis isolated in Vietnam

has become a significant public health problem in a number of countries and an obstacle for an effective control of tuberculosis. Vietnam is a high-burden country for tuberculosis [1]. In Vietnam, almost 30,000 gpeople die every year from TB (one death e very 18 minutes). Vietnam, with its estimated 175,000 new cases per year, ranks 12th among the 22 countries that bear 80% of the global TB burden [1,2]. If TB is detected early and treated pr operly by using a combination treatment for six Gto nine months, the patients quickly become pnon-infectious and are eventually cured. Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), HIV- associated TB, and weak health systems are major challenges i n Vietnam. There are an estimated 7,000 new MDR-TB cases and 6,400 new TB/HIV cases every year. Both of these forms of complicated TB carry a high risk of early mortality [1]. Although tubercu losis is still a public health problem in Vietnam, there is little information about the genetic characteristics of the isolates. A better knowledge of the molecular characteristics of