Molecular structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis population in Russia and its interaction with neighboring countries

The tuberculosis (TB) situation in Russia is aggravated by the emergence and the spread of multidrug-resistant strains, HIV co-infection and drawbacks in the health control system. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis population structure in Russia has been defined by the remarkable mass migration in the 20th century, the variable genetic background of different ethnic groups inhabiting Russia, and by the pathobiology of circulating strains. Here, I will review the phylogeography and pathobiology of: (i) the dominating Beijing family; (ii) the Latin-American Mediterranean (LAM) family, the second largest in Russia and MDR-associated in some regions; and (iii) the Ural family, endemic in Russia and thought to be less transmissible and drug resistant.