Researchers discover that TB bacteria can shield themselves from antibiotics and stay alive longer by changing their outer fat coating.

Infosys Prize 2021 Laureate, Dr Chandrasekhar Nair shares his views about using technology in medicine and healthcare

An international study, led by researchers from the USA, which also included researchers from India, have designed a point-of-care testing approach for individuals suffering from TB. The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine and supported in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, proposes a rapid, cost-effective, and readily accessible triage test kit that can be used at the site of patient care.

Tuberculosis or TB is a disease known to mankind since our existence on Earth. In spite of that, our fight against this deadly disease still continues. A major breakthrough in this fight is the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB, in the 19th century. World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated commemorating that significant day, when Robert Koch discovered this deadly bacteria that has now become stronger than ever, and standing tall against all odds in this fight. Will we ever succeed? Only time can tell.