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Special Issue "Novel Therapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis"

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A special issue of Clinics and Practice (ISSN 2039-7283).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 12374

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Venketaraman

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Guest Editor

Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
Interests: host immune responses against mycobacterium tuberculosis infection; pathogenesis of tuberculosis; HIV; diabetes; host-directed therapies for tuberculosis; COVID-19 pathogenesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to the unprecedented pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, especially its delta and omicron variants, infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) have not been adequately diagnosed and managed since 2020 due to overwhelmed health care systems. Pathogens such as M. tb have been around for several thousand years and are still causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Effective strategies to prevent, diagnose, and manage M. tb infection will greatly reduce morbidity and mortality among children and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV and type 2 diabetes. We therefore invite research and review articles for this Special Issue on preclinical and clinical research findings that shed light on the mechanistic details of host–pathogen interactions, molecular pathogenesis, and host-directed therapies, on the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents against mycobacterial infections, and on strategies to diagnose and effectively manage the disease.

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Venketaraman
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Clinics and Practice is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

mycobacterial infections
management
host–pathogen interactions
molecular pathogenesis
host-directed therapies
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

The Missing Quality of Tuberculosis Care and Treatment Delivered in Public-Health Facilities, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

and

Clin. Pract. 2022, 12(6), 1034-1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract12060106 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1185

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public-health problem. TB prevention and control measures are compromised by poor quality of care delivered to TB patients in health facilities during diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up; thus, this study was intended to determine the quality of TB care and treatment delivered in public-health facilities in Northeast Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in health facilities in South Wollo zone from January to April 2018. Data were collected from each study participant through face-to-face interviews. A TB registration logbook was reviewed for every registered TB patient and compiled using a structured questionnaire and standard checklists. The quality of care for each health facility was graded as very good, good, marginal, poor, and very poor if health facilities achieved [90–100%], [80–90%), [70–80%), [60–70%), and <60% of performance indicators, respectively, using the Donabedian structure, process, and outcome model of healthcare quality. All the health facilities had at least one functional microscope, and all the facilities had sufficient TB drugs almost all the time. All the facilities had reported to have sufficient laboratory reagents and slides for sputum smear microscopy. Of 1579 patients registered, 18.5% and 66.1% were cured and successfully completed the course of treatment, respectively. The overall quality of TB care and treatment was good (72.5%), and ranged from 70.9% to 74.8% among health facilities. Outcome (83.4%) and process (80%) qualities of care were very good but the structural quality of care was very poor. In conclusion, the overall quality of TB care and treatment analysed in this study was found to be good. There should be an integrated approach to improve the quality of TB care and treatment in health facilities in Ethiopia. Based on the findings, continuous supply of anti-TB drugs, laboratory equipment and reagents, availing current guidelines, providing up to-date training for healthcare workers, and proper documentation are important to improve the quality of care delivered to TB patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

Review

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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Challenges, and Risk Factors of Pott’s Disease

and

Vishwanath Venketaraman

Clin. Pract. 2023, 13(1), 155-165; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13010014 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 6528

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is increasing in developed nations and continuing to cause significant mortality in low- and middle-income countries. As a result of the uptick in cases, there also exists an increased prevalence of extrapulmonary TB. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). When M. tb disseminates to the vertebral column, it is called Pott’s disease or spinal TB. The frequency, symptoms, and severity of the disease range by the location of the spine and the region of the affected vertebrae. While the current literature shows that timely diagnosis is crucial to reduce the morbidity and mortality from Pott’s disease, there is a lack of specific clinical diagnostic criteria for Pott’s disease, and the symptoms may be very non-specific. Studies have shown that novel molecular diagnostic methods are effective and timely choices. Research has implicated the risk factors for the susceptibility and severity of Pott’s disease, such as HIV and immunosuppression, poverty, and malnutrition. Based on the current literature available, our group aims to summarize the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic challenges, as well as the known risk factors for Pott’s disease within this literature review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Role of Interferons in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Gaithrri Shanmuganathan

Arpitha Parthasarathy

and

Vishwanath Venketaraman

Clin. Pract. 2022, 12(5), 788-796; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract12050082 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1970

Abstract

Considerable measures have been implemented in healthcare institutions to screen for and treat tuberculosis (TB) in developed countries; however, in low- and middle-income countries, many individuals still suffer from TB’s deleterious effects. TB is caused by an infection from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) bacteria. Symptoms of TB may range from an asymptomatic latent-phase affecting the pulmonary tract to a devastating active and disseminated stage that can cause central nervous system demise, musculoskeletal impairments, and genitourinary compromise. Following M. tb infection, cytokines such as interferons (IFNs) are released as part of the host immune response. Three main classes of IFNs prevalent during the immune defense include: type I IFN (α and β), type II IFN (IFN-γ), and type III IFN (IFN-λ). The current literature reports that type I IFN plays a role in diminishing the host defense against M. tb by attenuating T-cell activation. In opposition, T-cell activation drives type II IFN release, which is the primary cytokine mediating protection from M. tb by stimulating macrophages and their oxidative defense mechanisms. Type III IFN has a subsidiary part in improving the Th1 response for host cell protection against M. tb. Based on the current evidence available, our group aims to summarize the role that each IFN serves in TB within this literature review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Review of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the Aftermath of COVID-19

and

Vishwanath Venketaraman

Clin. Pract. 2022, 12(5), 738-754; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract12050077 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1925

Abstract

In 2014, the World Health Organization developed the End Tuberculosis Strategy with the goal of a 95% reduction in deaths from tuberculosis (TB) by 2035. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown has had a major impact on TB awareness, screening, diagnosis, and prompt initiation of treatment, inevitably leading to a significant setback. We explore pediatric tuberculosis through the lens of the COVID-19 era, investigating how COVID-19 has impacted pediatric TB cases in different regions of the world and what the implications are for management moving forward to mitigate these effects. Furthermore, in light of recent findings showing how exposed infants and children are at higher risk than we thought of contracting the disease, greater attention and resources are needed to prevent further downward trends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

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