[EWS2-1] これまで解決されていない結核の問題点と現在の研究動向
Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, and an estimated 10.0 million people fell ill with TB in 2019. The incidence has been declining very slowly in recent years. The End TB Strategy set the goal of reducing 90% of the TB within 20 years. This target cannot be met without intensified research and innovation.
Unsolved problems of TB include:
1. The BCG remains the only licensed vaccine for preventing TB. A much more effective vaccine that provides protection against all forms of TB in all age groups is needed.
2. Although one forth of the world's population are infected with M. tuberculosis (MTB), no biological markers to identify people at high risk of developing TB have been developed.
3. Although detection of TB outbreaks has been guided by variable-number tandem repeat genotyping, the resolution power to distinguish MTB strains is unsatisfactory.
4. The Beijing genotype MTB strains spread widely in the world including Japan, which may have selective advantages over other genotypes.
5. Conventionally, drug-susceptibility testing for MTB has relied upon liquid or solid culture after weeks or months in a biosafety laboratory.
6. Current treatment regimens for TB disease require combinations of multiple drugs for a long period over months.
In this paper, some topics on current TB research essential to achieve the global TB target will be discussed.
Unsolved problems of TB include:
1. The BCG remains the only licensed vaccine for preventing TB. A much more effective vaccine that provides protection against all forms of TB in all age groups is needed.
2. Although one forth of the world's population are infected with M. tuberculosis (MTB), no biological markers to identify people at high risk of developing TB have been developed.
3. Although detection of TB outbreaks has been guided by variable-number tandem repeat genotyping, the resolution power to distinguish MTB strains is unsatisfactory.
4. The Beijing genotype MTB strains spread widely in the world including Japan, which may have selective advantages over other genotypes.
5. Conventionally, drug-susceptibility testing for MTB has relied upon liquid or solid culture after weeks or months in a biosafety laboratory.
6. Current treatment regimens for TB disease require combinations of multiple drugs for a long period over months.
In this paper, some topics on current TB research essential to achieve the global TB target will be discussed.