The Global Fight against Tuberculosis: Challenges and Innovations

Ohlson Emanuele^*
*Correspondence: Ohlson Emanuele, Department of Microbiology, University of Trento, Italy, Email:

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health burden, with approximately 10 million new cases reported annually. The emergence of drug-resistant strains, coupled with the limitations of current treatment options, underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring alternative approaches such as the use of lytic proteins and bacteriophages for TB treatment. This article aims to provide an exploratory review of the potential of these agents in combating TB [1]. Lytic proteins are enzymes produced by bacteriophages to degrade bacterial cell walls, facilitating the release of progeny phages. These proteins exhibit potent bactericidal activity and have shown promise as antimicrobial agents against a wide range of bacterial pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This characteristic makes them potentially safer alternatives for TB treatment [2]. Studies have demonstrated synergistic effects between lytic proteins and conventional TB drugs, enhancing their efficacy against drug-resistant strains.

Description

This synergism suggests that lytic proteins could be used as adjunctive therapy to improve treatment outcomes. Unlike some antibiotics that can cause adverse effects in patients, lytic proteins are highly specific to bacterial cells, minimizing the risk of toxicity to host tissues. Bacteriophages exhibit exquisite specificity for their bacterial hosts, enabling targeted killing of Mtb while sparing beneficial microbiota. This specificity reduces the likelihood of disrupting the host's normal microbial flora, which is crucial for maintaining health. Bacteriophages co-evolve with their bacterial hosts, leading to the continual emergence of phage variants with enhanced infectivity and lytic activity. This evolutionary arms race could potentially overcome bacterial resistance mechanisms, making bacteriophages valuable allies in the fight against drug-resistant TB. Mtb often forms biofilms, which confer increased resistance to antibiotics and host immune defenses. Bacteriophages have demonstrated the ability to penetrate and disrupt biofilms, making them promising candidates for combating persistent TB infections [3]. Lytic proteins target specific components of the bacterial cell wall, such as peptidoglycan, leading to cell lysis and death. The regulatory approval process for novel antimicrobial agents, including lytic proteins and bacteriophages, can be lengthy and complex. Overcoming regulatory hurdles is essential for translating promising preclinical findings into clinical applications. Immunogenic responses against lytic proteins and bacteriophages, as well as concerns regarding their pharmacokinetic profiles, may pose obstacles to their clinical utility. Further research is needed to address these challenges and optimize their therapeutic potential. Although lytic proteins and bacteriophages offer novel mechanisms of action against TB, the potential for the development of resistance cannot be overlooked. Strategies to mitigate resistance, such as combination therapy and phage cocktails, warrant investigation [4,5].

Conclsuion

Lytic proteins and bacteriophages represent promising alternatives for TB treatment, offering distinct advantages over conventional antibiotics. Their specificity, synergistic effects with existing drugs and potential to overcome drug resistance make them attractive candidates for further research and development. However, addressing regulatory, immunogenicity and resistance-related challenges is crucial for realizing their therapeutic potential in clinical settings. Continued investment in research and innovation is essential to harness the full therapeutic potential of these agents in the fight against TB. This mechanism offers a distinct advantage over conventional antibiotics, as it reduces the likelihood of inducing resistance. Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect and replicate within bacterial cells. They have garnered attention as potential antimicrobial agents due to their ability to target and kill bacteria, including Mtb.

References

1. Shanks, Sarah, May CI van Schalkwyk and Andrew A. Cunningham. “A call to prioritise prevention: Action is needed to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease emergence.” Lancet Regi Healthâ??Eur 23 (2022).

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2. Plowright, Raina K., Colin R. Parrish, Hamish McCallum and Peter J. Hudson, et al. “Pathways to zoonotic spillover.” Nat Rev Microbiol 15 (2017): 502-510.
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