Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mexico

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Mexico, with more than 20,000 new cases annually and a rising proportion of drug-resistant strains. This work addresses the molecular epidemiology of TB in the Mexican context, emphasizing its role in understanding transmission, genetic diversity, and resistance mechanisms. To achieve this, we reviewed molecular typing approaches including spoligotyping, Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit–Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) analysis, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), which have been applied to characterize circulating lineages and identify drug-resistance-associated mutations. The results indicate that the Euro-American lineage (L4) predominates across the country, although significant regional variation exists, with Haarlem, LAM, T, and X sub lineages dominating in different states, and occasional detection of Asian (L2) and Indo-Oceanic (L1) lineages. Key resistance mutations were identified in katG, rpoB, pncA, and gyrA, contributing to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains, particularly in border and marginalized regions. These findings highlight how social factors, such as migration, urban overcrowding, and comorbidities including diabetes and HIV, influence transmission dynamics. We conclude that integrating molecular tools with epidemiological surveillance is crucial for strengthening public health strategies and guiding interventions tailored to Mexico’s heterogeneous TB burden.