Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global healthcare crisis, with an estimated 5.8 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2020. TB is caused by infection with the major human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is difficult to rapidly diagnose and treat. There is an urgent need for new methods of diagnosis, sufficient in vitro models that capably mimic all physiological conditions of the infection, and high-throughput drug screening platforms. Microfluidic-based techniques provide single-cell analysis which reduces experimental time and the cost of reagents, and have been extremely useful for gaining insight into monitoring microorganisms. This review outlines the field of microfluidics and discusses the use of this novel technique so far in M. tuberculosis diagnostics, research methods, and drug discovery platforms. The practices of microfluidics have promising future applications for diagnosing and treating TB.
Highlights
The application of fluidic devices in TB diagnostics, microbiological research, and drug discovery has proven the power of this technique in improving throughput and sensitivity and reducing dependence on animal models
Combining microfluidics with diagnostics and detection is ahead of the field compared to drug discovery
Chips were used in combination with PCR, biosensors, and microscopy techniques for detecting TB infection and resistant strains
Summary
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of the human pulmonary infection tuberculosis (TB). The current recommended treatment for drug-susceptible TB takes a minimum six-month administration of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZA), and ethambutol (EMB) [2]. This first-line recommendation has failed to adapt in the last thirty-five years despite the increasing occurrence of drug resistance. Many efforts have been made to reduce the mycobacterial burden (reducing mortality and transmission), eradicate persistent mycobacterial populations, and to reduce drug resistance through various incentives such as END-TB [4] and WHO End TB Strategy 2016–2035 [5]. Research into the economic burden of TB has revealed a global cost of 983 bn USD from 2015–. 2030 if the current health status continues [6].
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