Drug susceptibility of individual mycobacterial cells

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Part of the pathogen’s success is its ability to diversify itself phenotypically and survive antibiotic therapy even in the absence of genetic resistance. Here, we will highlight the physiological aspects of the pathogen that promote tolerance and describe the mechanisms by which some of these vary in a genetically identical population. A better, molecular, understanding of this phenomenon may provide the key to improved TB therapy.