title: Mycobacterium tuberculosis: drug resistance and future perspectives.
abstract: TB is still a global health problem. The selection and spread of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains represents a threat for global TB control. The reappearance of TB has driven an increased interest in understanding the mechanisms of drug action and drug resistance, which could provide a significant contribution in the development of new antimicrobials. In this article, the authors describe the mode of action and the resistance mechanisms of the principal first- and second-line antitubercular agents, namely isoniazid, ethionamide, ethambutol, D-cycloserine, rifamycins, fluoroquinolones, streptomycin, linezolid and pyrazinamide. A brief outline of the seven drugs in clinical development is reported, showing how the development of new TB drugs is still required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics & Microbiology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata, 1 27100 Pavia, Italy. riccardi@ipvgen.unipv.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riccardi
authors.forename: Maria Rosalia
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pasca
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buroni
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents