Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the major cause of tuberculosis (TB) across the globe. Around one-fourth of the world’s population is infected with TB asymptomatically. Longer regimen of anti-TB drugs (longer treatment leading to poor adherence to treatment), interrupted anti-TB drugs treatment (long regimen with incomplete anti-TB treatment), and ineffectiveness of the anti-TB drugs due to the re-emergence of latent TB infections are just a few mechanisms that play a major hindrance to achieving the end of the global TB epidemic by 2035 as WHO plans. The emergence of drug-resistant in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and co-infections with HIV as well as SARS-CoV-2 poses a serious threat to global health agencies. It was reported that the TB cases in India and other endemic countries are two to three times higher than in the last few years. Different mechanisms were acquired by the bacteria to become multidrug-resistant such as an alternation in the target site, drug efflux by overexpression of efflux pumps, inactivation of drugs by enzymes and biofilms. Mechanisms adopted by bacteria and longer anti-tuberculosis treatment regimens are the greatest threat in TB control programs especially in malnourished, immune-compromised, M. tuberculosis co-infection with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 individuals in developing countries.
There is a great need for shorter anti-TB regimens and novel drugs with a different mode of action to encounter the emergence of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Combinatorial drug treatments by anti-TB drugs along with the repurposed drugs are also the novel choice against this deadly TB. The current issue will focus on different mechanisms adopted by mycobacterium to develop multidrug-resistant mycobacteria and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemics in TB treatment and management. Furthermore, the modern techniques used for the early diagnosis and management of M. tuberculosis and its co-infection with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 are the point of innovative interest that shows the potential development in technologies and applications for the management of these co-infections.
Submissions are welcome for the following article types: Original research, Review, Mini-reviews, Perspective, Hypothesis, and Theory. We particularly welcome contributions that include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• Effects of viral co-infection (HIV or SARS-CoV-2) in tuberculosis patients and its correlation with drug resistance.
• Recent development in the diagnosis of TB and viral co-infections only for combined infections (e.g., TB and SARS-CoV2 or TB and HIV).
• Co-infections of SARS-CoV-2 or HIV and M. tuberculosis in the longevity of the bacterial infection.
• Potential strategy used for combating these co-infection (e.g. nanoparticles, re-purposing of molecules/drugs, nano-based interventions, combinatorial drug treatments) for patients with TB and SARS-CoV2 or TB and HIV.
• Tuberculosis in patients with SARS-CoV-2 or HIV.
• Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic (PKPD) of combinatorial drugs used for treatments in TB and SARS-CoV2 or TB and HIV patients.
• Impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on hosts and development of drug resistance in TB infected patients.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the major cause of tuberculosis (TB) across the globe. Around one-fourth of the world’s population is infected with TB asymptomatically. Longer regimen of anti-TB drugs (longer treatment leading to poor adherence to treatment), interrupted anti-TB drugs treatment (long regimen with incomplete anti-TB treatment), and ineffectiveness of the anti-TB drugs due to the re-emergence of latent TB infections are just a few mechanisms that play a major hindrance to achieving the end of the global TB epidemic by 2035 as WHO plans. The emergence of drug-resistant in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and co-infections with HIV as well as SARS-CoV-2 poses a serious threat to global health agencies. It was reported that the TB cases in India and other endemic countries are two to three times higher than in the last few years. Different mechanisms were acquired by the bacteria to become multidrug-resistant such as an alternation in the target site, drug efflux by overexpression of efflux pumps, inactivation of drugs by enzymes and biofilms. Mechanisms adopted by bacteria and longer anti-tuberculosis treatment regimens are the greatest threat in TB control programs especially in malnourished, immune-compromised, M. tuberculosis co-infection with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 individuals in developing countries.
There is a great need for shorter anti-TB regimens and novel drugs with a different mode of action to encounter the emergence of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Combinatorial drug treatments by anti-TB drugs along with the repurposed drugs are also the novel choice against this deadly TB. The current issue will focus on different mechanisms adopted by mycobacterium to develop multidrug-resistant mycobacteria and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemics in TB treatment and management. Furthermore, the modern techniques used for the early diagnosis and management of M. tuberculosis and its co-infection with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 are the point of innovative interest that shows the potential development in technologies and applications for the management of these co-infections.
Submissions are welcome for the following article types: Original research, Review, Mini-reviews, Perspective, Hypothesis, and Theory. We particularly welcome contributions that include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• Effects of viral co-infection (HIV or SARS-CoV-2) in tuberculosis patients and its correlation with drug resistance.
• Recent development in the diagnosis of TB and viral co-infections only for combined infections (e.g., TB and SARS-CoV2 or TB and HIV).
• Co-infections of SARS-CoV-2 or HIV and M. tuberculosis in the longevity of the bacterial infection.
• Potential strategy used for combating these co-infection (e.g. nanoparticles, re-purposing of molecules/drugs, nano-based interventions, combinatorial drug treatments) for patients with TB and SARS-CoV2 or TB and HIV.
• Tuberculosis in patients with SARS-CoV-2 or HIV.
• Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic (PKPD) of combinatorial drugs used for treatments in TB and SARS-CoV2 or TB and HIV patients.
• Impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on hosts and development of drug resistance in TB infected patients.
