Introduction
The tuberculosis (TB) epidemiological studies were conducted at the Palamaner field site in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, set up under a programme approved by the Ministry of Health Screening Committee, Government of India. The studies were funded by the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, USA, and the Research Council of Norway. Three large cohort studies assessed cumulative incidence of TB in 1) newborns followed for 2 years, 2) adolescents aged 12 to <18 years followed for 2 years and 3) household contacts of smear positive TB index cases followed for a year. Apart from epidemiological analyses, the studies will also contribute to the evaluation of biomarkers in latent TB infection and TB disease.