Tuberculosis has plagued mankind since prehistoric times and is still an important source of morbidity and mortality, with particularly devastating effects in developing and tropical countries. Tuberculosis results from an infection with Myeo- baeterium tubereu/osis, and the World Health Organization estimates that perhaps as much as one-third of the world's population or approximately 1. 9 billion persons are or have been infected with M. tubereu/osis. Each year, there are 8-10 million new cases of tuberculosis and about 3 million deaths due to it. Indeed, tuberculosis is the leading cause...