pathogens
Editorial
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pathogenesis, Infection
Prevention and Treatment
Riccardo Miggiano , Menico Rizzi and Davide M. Ferraris *
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy;
riccardo.miggiano@uniupo.it (R.M.); menico.rizzi@uniupo.it (M.R.)
*Correspondence: davide.ferraris@uniupo.it; Tel.: +39-0321375715
Received: 13 May 2020; Accepted: 15 May 2020; Published: 18 May 2020
Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (MTB) and it represents a persistent public health threat for a number of complex
biological and sociological reasons. According to the most recent Global Tuberculosis Report (2019)
edited by the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is considered the ninth cause of death worldwide
and the leading cause of mortality by a single infectious agent, with the highest rate of infections and
death toll rate mostly concentrated in developing and low-income countries. We present here the
editorial section to the Special Issue entitled “Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pathogenesis, Infection
Prevention and Treatment” that includes 7 research articles and a review. The scientific contributions
included in the Special Issue mainly focus on the characterization of MTB strains emerging in TB
endemic countries as well as on multiple mechanisms adopted by the bacteria to resist and to adapt
to antitubercular therapies.
Keywords:
M. tuberculosis; tuberculosis; host-pathogen interactions; immune response; antitubercular
drug discovery; antitubercular treatments
Editorial
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(MTB) and it represents a persistent public health threat for a number of complex biological and
sociological reasons. According to the most recent Global Tuberculosis Report (2019) edited by the
World Health Organization (WHO) [
1
], TB is considered the ninth cause of death worldwide and the
leading cause of mortality by a single infectious agent, with the highest rate of infections and death toll
rate mostly concentrated in developing and low-income countries. TB is also considered an impairing
factor for economic growth and for the improvement of the general public health in those countries,
as it drains human and financial resources that would otherwise be invested in the economy [
2
].
Hence, there is a pressing need to study and develop new prevention protocols and treatments for TB.
Public health policy makers, supranational organizations and governing bodies are currently joining
efforts in raising awareness in the general population regarding MTB contagion and in establishing
guidelines and protocols for fighting TB [
3
]. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies research new
therapies and approaches for finding new antitubercular diagnostics and treatments, the commercial
sustainability of which should not be overlooked in order to make antitubercular treatments accessible
and inclusive [4].
Research articles and the review published in this Special Issue entitled “Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Pathogenesis, Infection Prevention and Treatment” mainly focus on the characterization of MTB
strains emerging in TB endemic countries as well as on multiple mechanisms adopted by the bacteria
to resist and to adapt to antitubercular therapies. The work of Mupfumi L. et al. investigates the
dynamics of the host immune response during MTB infection in HIV/TB co-infected patients, defining
Pathogens 2020,9, 385; doi:10.3390/pathogens9050385 www.mdpi.com/journal/pathogens
