TLR 8 gene polymorphism and association in bacterial load in southern P unjab of P akistan: an association study with pulmonary tuberculosis

Summary Only 5–10% of people infected with M ycobacterium tuberculosis develop active tuberculosis which suggests a role of genetic variation in host immunity. Genetic variants in TLR s are potential indicator for host susceptibility and outcome of several diseases. We explored the association of nonsynonymous genetic variants ( M et1 V al) with T oll‐like receptor 8 in Pakistani population. Genotypic and allelic distribution of TLR 8 polymorphism (rs3764880) in patients with TB and healthy donors from different areas of southern P unjab, P akistan, was determined. Results provide that our population is highly influenced by TLR 8 M et1 V al SNP for TB , and G allele appeared to increase TB susceptibility. Mutant genotype GG or G /− and G allele was significantly higher among all the categories of cases than in controls. Among different levels of bacillary load and genotypes, GG or G /− and G allele significantly supports the incidence of 2 +  class for bacterial load.