Myths and misconceptions: the origin and evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Much effort has been spent trying to work out the origin and history of tuberculosis. Understanding these concepts could have important consequences for the development of vaccines and therapies that are effective against all strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We discuss a series of misconceptions about the origin of both M. tuberculosis and the disease it causes that have arisen over the years, and identify a number of unanswered questions that could provide insight into both these areas.