Resuscitation promoting factors (Rpf) are peptidoglycan-hydrolyzing enzymes that are pivotal in the resuscitation of quiescent actinobacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. From the published data, it is clear that Rpf are required for the resuscitation of non-replicating bacilli and pathogenesis in murine infection model of tuberculosis, although their direct influence on human Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is ill-defined. In this review, we describe the progress in the understanding of the roles that Rpf play in human tuberculosis pathogenesis and importance of bacilli dependent upon Rpf for growth for the outcome of human tuberculosis. We outline how this research is opening up important opportunities for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease, progress in which is essential to attain the ultimate goal of tuberculosis eradication.
Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Resuscitation promoting factors; Rpf; pathogenesis; tuberculosis.