Targeting drug tolerance in mycobacteria: a perspective from mycobacterial biofilms. Issue 9 (September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Islam, Mohammad S; Richards, Jacob P; Ojha, Anil K
• Is Part Of: Expert review of anti-infective therapy. Volume 10:Issue 9(2012)
• Page Start: 1055
• Page End: 1066
• Publication Date: 2012-09
• Subjects: biofilms -- drug tolerance -- Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- tuberculosis; Anti-infective agents -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.90461
• DOI: 10.1586/eri.12.88
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-7210

Abstract

Multidrug chemotherapy for 6–9-months is one of the primary treatments in effective control of tuberculosis, although the mechanisms underlying the persistence of its etiological agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, against antibiotics remain unclear. Ever-mounting evidence indicates that the survival of many environmental and pathogenic microbial species against antibiotics is influenced by their ability to grow as surface-associated multicellular communities called biofilms. In recent years, several mycobacterial species, including M. tuberculosis, have been found to form drug-tolerant biofilms in vitro through genetically controlled mechanisms. In this review, the authors discuss the relevance of the in vitro mycobacterial biofilms in understanding the antibiotic recalcitrance of tuberculosis infections.