Basic Research
NIAID supports basic research on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of TB, and seeks to understand how the bacterium causes disease in humans. By developing animal models for TB, the Institute is accelerating efforts to evaluate candidate drugs and vaccines and to improve TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. NIAID also supports research to assess what factors influence the occurrence, distribution, and transmission of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Mtb.
About the TB Bug