Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB), a communicable disease is one of the oldest diseases found to
have afflicted its wrath upon mankind since ancient times. Still today it is one of the
top 10 causes of fatality around the globe and even ranks above HIV/AIDS. The
causal organism of TB was not known until Dr. Robert Koch’s announcement on
March 24, 1882 about his discovery of the bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(Mtb). It spreads through aerosols when an infected person expels bacteria either by
coughing, sneezing or some other means. It typically affects the lungs (pulmonary
TB) but can also cause disease in other parts of the body referred to as
extrapulmonary TB. It infects about a quarter of the world’s population but only 5-
10% is at the risk of developing the disease throughout their life. The host factors for
the disease include under-nutrition, HIV, smoking and alcohol abuse and diabetes. It
is a curable disease if the diagnosis is made in due time and the treatment with firstline
drugs for 6months is followed religiously. BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) is
only accredited vaccine till date that was developed around 100 years ago. It is
effective in preventing the disease in children but is not effective in adults. Although
the clinical trials of M72/AS01 are underway, the results of Phase II clinical trials
show that it is a valuable vaccine candidate.
