Response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to pH Stress: Promising Approach to Control Tuberculosis

Widespread and prolonged usage of antitubercular drugs in treating Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) has led to the emergence of drug resistance by a phenomenon termed as Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR-TB). Despite reasonable advances in understanding of major players which contribute to drug resistance, it appears unavoidable to consider novel mechanisms combating MDR. The ability of pathogenic MTB, to acclimatize and become accustomed to changes in the host environment is essential for its survival that confers the basis for success of MTB as dreadful pathogen. One such significant environmental factor that MTB must surmount is pH adaptation, since they encounter diverse anatomical sites during the establishment of infection within the host. Considering the importance of MTB, being the second most common cause of mortality, this chapter focuses on gaining insights of various pH dependent mechanisms in MTB and how they can be exploited pharmacologically as efficient anti-mycobacterial therapeutic strategy.