In Search of El Dorado: Current Trends and Strategies in the Development of Novel Anti-Tubercular Drugs

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the ethiological agent of human tuberculosis, is still one of the most effective human pathogens, and along with the causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, and the HIV virus, conform a triad of killers that merciless strike the human race. Current statistics show that in 2007 these three pathogens took the life of almost 5 million people; the majority of the cases (nearly 3 million people) affecting Africa and specially children (1,8 million deaths). Of these three agents, the tubercle bacilli is perhaps the one that spreads with more efficiency since it infects humans by aerial route, through aerosolized drops produced by coughing tuberculosis patients. Measures for intervention can be designed in the case of malaria (fighting against the transmission vector and its environment) and HIV (proper sex conduct, condom usage) but are much harder to elaborate in order to prevent people suffering of tuberculosis from coughing. Having a very