Tuberculosis control by novel vaccines development and Indian initiatives

Abstract

Abstract Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the worst microbial diseases of humankind and an awful societal problem, especially in underdeveloped countries. The enormous TB-infected individuals were in the Southeast Asian Region (46%), about 23% in the African Region, 18% in the West Pacific region, and the rest in other regions. While TB is often effectively treatable, untreated cases can lead to drug-resistant forms that are harder to manage and may kill the infected sooner after the disease flares up. In 2021, approximately 1.6 million individuals succumbed to TB worldwide. Although the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is currently the only approved anti-TB vaccine, its effectiveness in adolescents and adults is limited. Globally, several vaccines are in the developmental stage. This review narrates the progress made in developing 23 candidate anti-tuberculosis vaccines (including developing more immunogenic and safer recombinant Mtb strains) by different scientific groups worldwide. Additionally, the incidence of TB in India, along with the Indian initiatives and activities in controlling the disease, has been briefly discussed.