Tuberculosis (TB) disease remains endemic in many parts of the world despite the existence of vaccine and antibiotic therapies. The ineffectiveness of the vaccine to protect against adult TB disease and the complex antibiotic therapy that leads to development of resistance has led to targeted global efforts towards discovery of novel treatment options. Currently, no major breakthroughs have materialized. Part of the failure is rooted in the complex nature of TB disease and the still many unknown processes that facilitate disease progression and transmission. What is certain is that the host immune response plays a critical role in dictating disease pathology. Thus, the hypothesis that an effective therapy must also target host immunity may lead to the much needed breakthrough towards developing effective TB therapeutics and vaccine strategies.
This Research Topic will focus on novel research into immune modulators that are capable of alleviating the progressive pathology of TB disease, with particular focus on pathology that enables disease transmission. This collection of articles will include, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Host targeted immune therapies as adjunct to current first-line TB treatment
• Current FDA approved drugs that can be used in conjunction with first-line TB regimen
• New insights into immune mechanisms that direct specific TB pathology development and/or progression
• Biomarker/proteomic profiles that correlates to specific TB pathology
• Adjunct vaccine components that alter disease pathology
Tuberculosis (TB) disease remains endemic in many parts of the world despite the existence of vaccine and antibiotic therapies. The ineffectiveness of the vaccine to protect against adult TB disease and the complex antibiotic therapy that leads to development of resistance has led to targeted global efforts towards discovery of novel treatment options. Currently, no major breakthroughs have materialized. Part of the failure is rooted in the complex nature of TB disease and the still many unknown processes that facilitate disease progression and transmission. What is certain is that the host immune response plays a critical role in dictating disease pathology. Thus, the hypothesis that an effective therapy must also target host immunity may lead to the much needed breakthrough towards developing effective TB therapeutics and vaccine strategies.
This Research Topic will focus on novel research into immune modulators that are capable of alleviating the progressive pathology of TB disease, with particular focus on pathology that enables disease transmission. This collection of articles will include, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Host targeted immune therapies as adjunct to current first-line TB treatment
• Current FDA approved drugs that can be used in conjunction with first-line TB regimen
• New insights into immune mechanisms that direct specific TB pathology development and/or progression
• Biomarker/proteomic profiles that correlates to specific TB pathology
• Adjunct vaccine components that alter disease pathology