FUTURE-DIRECTIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ANTITUBERCULAR DRUGS - WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE

The global resurgence of tuberculosis and rampant drug resistance have rekindled the need for and interest in the development of new antitub ercular drugs. Delineation of the possible drug targets furnished by t he various mycobacterial cell components might result in rational appr oaches to the development of such agents. In the future, molecular gen etics might help both in the bioengineering and rapid screening of the activity of new compounds. Collaboration is anticipated between the p harmaceutical industry and academic institutions in these areas.