Biomarkers which were consistently associated with clinical groups “upstream” towards culture-positive TB, were FCGR1A, FPR1, MMP9, RAB24, TNFRSF1A and TIMP2, whereas BLR1, CD8A, IL7R, and TGFBR2 were associated with clinical groups “downstream” towards a decreased likelihood of TB disease. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is tuberculosis.