Tuberculosis research: Quo vadis

Abstract

Despite 142 years of ongoing research, since Robert Koch discovered the tuberculosis (TB) bacillus, TB continues to flourish in the most vulnerable parts of the globe in Asia, Africa and South America. Indeed, progressive socio-economic measures (nutrition, housing and environment) have shown to be more effective than research in disease elimination in affluent areas of the globe. Undoubtedly, however, areas undertaken in recent research studies underscore new knowledge that may yield far-reaching impact on disease control, if not elimination. This editorial aims to highlight such specific studies and their impact.