RESEARCH
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) leads TB research at the National Institutes of Health. NIAID supports not only studies to better understand how M. tuberculosis infects and causes disease in humans but also how the human immune system responds to it. This research will help to develop new tools to diagnose TB and to find better vaccines and new medicines against TB. Below are some important advances that have been made in TB research.
Diagnostics
• Potential new tests may speed the diagnosis of TB from 4 weeks to 2 days
• Differences found in the DNA of M. tuberculosis and the bacterium used in the BCG vaccine may lead to a test to tell the difference between people who really have TB and those who are merely reacting to previous BCG vaccination
• Characterization of antibodies and other components of the immune response may potentially identify people who are infected with M. tuberculosis and are at the highest risk of developing active disease
Treatment
• Development of promising new drug candidates, some of which are currently being tested in human clinical trials
• Evaluation of shorter treatment regimens to make it easier for people to complete drug therapy
• Inclusion of antibiotics that are already available for treatment of other infections and have been shown to act on M. tuberculosis may make therapy more potent and easier to tolerate
Vaccines
Three new vaccine candidates are now in clinical trials and several more are being analyzed in animal studies.
Training
NIAID offers an intensive 3-year Infectious Diseases Training Program (www.niaid.nih.gov/training/infectious.htm) for physicians to produce investigators in clinical, basic, or translational research. These programs offer exposure to and insight into the science and management of mycobacterial diseases. They will increase the cadre of investigators with medical training to help identify and answer complex questions in the area of host/pathogen interactions in TB and other mycobacterial diseases.
Recognizing that disease knows no borders, NIAID has developed a global TB research agenda. A concerted global effort will require collaborations with sister agencies and other organizations with similar goals such as the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development and the STOP TB initiative, as well as partnerships with governments and scientists from countries where the burden of tuberculosis is greatest.
MORE INFORMATION
- National Library of Medicine
MedlinePlus
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Bethesda, MD 20894
1-888-FIND-NLM (1-888-346-3656) oe 301-594-5983
www.medlineplus.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Atlanta, GA 30333
1-800-311-3435 or 404-639-3534
www.cdc.gov
- World Health Organization
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1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
(00 41 22) 791 21 11
www.who.int
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