Viewpoint: Scientific dogmas, paradoxes and mysteries of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Zumla, Alimuddin, Atun, Rifat, Maeurer, Markus, Mwaba, Peter, Ma, Zhenkun, O'Grady, Justin, Bates, Matthew, Dheda, Keertan, Hoelscher, Michael and Grange, John (2011) Viewpoint: Scientific dogmas, paradoxes and mysteries of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 16 (1). pp. 79-83. ISSN 1365-3156

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Abstract

Worldwide, there are nearly 10 million new cases of active TB and 1.8 million associated deaths every year. WHO estimates that one-third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), forming a huge latent Mtb global reservoir. This renders the prospect of ever eliminating Mtb from the human race almost impossible. Several controversial issues regarding host-pathogen interactions and existing prevention and eradication strategies for latent Mtb infections need to be critically re-examined. In this viewpoint, widely held assumptions on Mtb latency and isoniazid monotherapy and chemoprophylaxis are challenged. We highlight the need for future research to resolve these issues and to develop evidence-based strategies for better understanding of equilibrium and escape of Mtb in the human body, eventually leading to global recommendations for elimination of the latent Mtb state through informed policy and practice. Until such strategies and policies are realized, WHO and TB experts will have to settle for global TB control rather than eradication.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	mycobacterium tuberculosis,tuberculosis,latency,isoniazid,immunology,preventive therapy,re-activation,xdr-tb,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Medical Microbiology (former - to 2018)
Depositing User:	Justin O'Grady
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2013 04:43
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2022 14:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/41290
DOI:	10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02665.x

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