Abstract

ALVAREZ, Nadine et al. Mechanisms of evasion and persistence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the latencystate and potential strategies to control latent infection . Vaccimonitor [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.3, pp. 18-25. ISSN 1025-0298.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, infects approximately 54 million people around the world each year and is a leading cause of death among infectious diseases. Most individuals infected with M. tuberculosis develop a latent infection stage at which this organism survives within the host, evading the defense mechanisms of the host immune system. Current TB therapy involves administration of four antibiotics for six months. However, M. tuberculosis is able to survive after several months of treatment with this antimicrobial combination therapy. There is evidence that the TB bacilli during the stationary phase of growth, increases tolerance to stress environments. The cost of drugs used for treatment and the increase of M. tuberculosis multidrug resistant strains, is one of the main reasons for developing a new vaccine against tuberculosis. However, the elimination of the disease has been prevented by the ability of the bacillus to both survive in latency for decades, under conditions of hypoxia and to cause recurrent infections.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; latency genes; persistence; reactivation.

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