Reimagining the Transition of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Research from Mammalian Models to Zebrafish

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious and infectious disease caused by the microorganism Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Tuberculosis remains a significant global health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. This article reviews the transition of Mtb research with several animal models, focusing on zebrafish as a unique approach. Traditionally, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, and monkeys have been used, but zebrafish models offer a new perspective on Mtb research due to their similarity to human symptoms and mechanisms. Zebrafish models have been crucial in understanding immune responses, drug efficacy, and initial pathogenicity to bridge the gap between small and large mammalian models. The zebrafish model has shown promising approach in understanding Mtb's intracellular pathogenicity, impaired lysosome functioning and macrophage survival strategies. This model has the potential to overcome the limitations of other animal models, providing an essential resource for tuberculosis research.