Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of distinguishing active TB in the presence of a complicating factor, for example, latent TB and/or co-morbidities, such as those that present similar symptoms to TB, such as HIV. The method employs a 27 gene signature to distinguish active tuberculosis from latent TB infection, a 44 gene signature to distinguish active TB from other diseases such as HIV and/or a 53 gene signature to discriminate active TB from latent TB and other diseases. The disclosure also relates to a gene signature employed in the method, a bespoke gene chip for use in the method and a disease risk score obtainable from the method.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining susceptibility to keloid formation. These determine susceptibility based on comparison of gene expression in a patient of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is decreased in a sample representative of gene expression in the patient compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this is indicative of a susceptibility to keloid formation.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining susceptibility to keloid formation. These determine susceptibility based on comparison of gene expression in a patient of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is increased in a sample representative of gene expression in the patient compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this is indicative of a susceptibility to keloid formation.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining whether a scar of interest is keloid or non-keloid in nature. These determine keloid or non-keloid nature based on comparison of gene expression in the scar of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is decreased in a sample representative of gene expression in the scar of interest compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this indicates that the scar of interest comprises a keloid.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining whether a scar of interest is keloid or non-keloid in nature. These determine keloid or non-keloid nature based on comparison of gene expression in the scar of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is increased in a sample representative of gene expression in the scar of interest compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this indicates that the scar of interest comprises a keloid.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of an antagonist of CXCL 13 or CXCR5 activity in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or inhibition of pathological scarring; as well as the use of such antagonists in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or inhibition of fibrotic disorders; and the use of such antagonists in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a chronic wound. Medicaments or methods of the invention are particularly suitable for use in keloids or venous ulcers. Suitable antagonists of CXCL13 or CXCR5 activity may be any compound capable of inhibiting the CXCL13/CXCR5 signalling pathway. The invention also provides a model of aberrant wound healing, which may lead to pathological scar formation, or to chronic wound formation.