Eliminating mycobacterial persistence: Novel targets for anti-tb therapy

Abstract

Despite enormous efforts toward eradication of tuberculosis (TB), it remains one of the leading causes of deaths from a single infectious agent. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of TB, has successfully persisted in the human host for centuries. Current anti-TB therapy is effective in most of the cases but due to a very long duration of treatment and adverse side effects of medication, it leads to non-compliance resulting in the emergence of drug resistance. Moreover, host never gets completely sterilized of the bug and thus remains susceptible to disease relapse. Thus in order to completely eliminate tuberculosis in the near future, one must attempt to understand the dynamics of dormant, persistent, and latent bacilli which are resistant to majority of anti-TB drugs and are a major cause for recurrence incidents. Here, we briefly describe dormancy, persistence, and latency in terms of tuberculosis disease. We attempt to elaborate on various models used to study these phenomena which have led to a better understanding of the mechanisms adopted by Mtb in order to survive in the hostile environment of the host. These studies are critical for developing newer and effective strategies to target TB.