Molecular biology and mycobacteria

Mycobacteria and molecular biology provide an interesting combination of the old and the new. Using modern techniques, it will be possible to develop new ways to approach ancient diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy and more modern diseases such as disseminated MAC infections in patients with AIDS. DNA probes will be developed to rapidly diagnose mycobacterial infections with greater accuracy. We will gain a better understanding of how infections spread if we can identify different strains of a given species and if we can monitor close contacts of infected patients with more specific immunologic tests. By understanding mechanisms of drug resistance and the host immune response to mycobacterial infection, it may be possible to develop more effective modes of treatment. Finally, it may be possible to develop effective vaccines to control the spread of infection.