MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important infectious diseases of mankind, claiming 30,000 lives every week. One third of the world’s population carry an asymptomatic persistent infection with a 10% risk of progression to active disease. Of the 9 million new cases of tuberculosis every year, more than half a million are caused by strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that have acquired multidrug-resistance. BCG is currently the only vaccine used against TB and while it is successful in protecting against disease in children, it is ineffective against adult pulmonary TB. Improvement in diagnosis, drugs and vaccines for tuberculosis will be needed to control this epidemic.

MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS Bovine tuberculosis is the most important veterinary health problem in the UK. The projected economic burden to the UK over the next decade is predicted to be £1 billion. Control is likely to require an integrated approach with vaccination of cattle representing a key component. Presently, the M.bovis BCG vaccine represents the most encouraging vaccination option, but it compromises the diagnostic skin test and has a protective efficacy of only ~50-70%.

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