PET imaging of mycobacterial infection: transforming the pipeline for tuberculosis drug development

Abstract

Improved PET/CT radiopharmaceuticals can better visualize and monitor tuberculosis and enable real-time pharmacological drug profiling in vivo. PET/CT imaging can therefore be used to study in animal models the changes in tissue pathology in tuberculosis infection, such as mycobacterial latency, tuberculoma formation, lung cavitation or calcification, and extrapulmonary disease. This Perspective aims to critically evaluate the current and future contribution and role of PET imaging in anti-tuberculosis drug development.