NEW PRINCE SHRI BHAVANI VIDYASHRAM

(Affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi)

NO 18, SOUTH SECTOR 2ND STREET, ADAMBAKKAM CHENNAI
600088

BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

“TUBERCULOSIS”

NAME : A. Akshith
CLASS & SEC : XII
‘A’ REGISTRATION NO :
ACADEMIC YEAR : 2025-2026
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that A. Akshith of class XII- A has completed

this Bonafide Certificate Project work in Biology, NEW PRINCE
SHRI BHAVANI VIDHYASHRAM, ADAMBAKKAM, CHENNAI
600088 during the academic year 2025- 2026

Registration No :

Date :

This is for Submission for the SSCE EXAMINATION to be held in

Biology lab of New Prince Shri Bhavani Vidyashram during the
academic year 2025-2026.

External Examiner Internal Examiner

Principal
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express a deep sense of gratitude to my

project guide Mrs. Sasikala for guiding me in every step
throughout the project. Her encouragement and
motivation helped me to complete the project successfully
and well in time.

I would also like to thank my principal and school

management for their guidance throughout the course
of the project.

I am also highly grateful to my parents for their

everlasting encouragement and support. I acknowledge
the contribution of my classmates, for timely help and
support in the completion of this project.

I thank all those who have helped me indirectly during the

course of the project. Last but not least, I am deeply
obliged to the Almighty who has assisted me from the
beginning till the very end of this project and made it a
grand success.
Synopsis:
 Introduction
 Prevention of tuberculosis
 Treatment of Tuberculosis
 History of Tuberculosis
 Means of infection
 Symptoms of Tuberculosis
 Bibliography
Introduction:
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest and most dangerous
infectious diseases, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. It was first discovered in 1882 by the German
physician Robert Koch, who identified the microorganism
responsible for this deadly illness. TB primarily affects the
lungs but can spread to other organs such as the kidneys,
spine, and brain if untreated. It spreads easily through the air
in droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes,
or speaks, making it highly contagious. Over the last 200
years, tuberculosis has killed more than a billion people,
demonstrating its devastating global impact. Today, it remains
a leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. About
one-quarter of the world’s population is infected with latent
TB, meaning they carry the bacteria without active symptoms
but remain at risk of developing the disease. Factors such as
poor nutrition, overcrowded living conditions, and weakened
immunity increase susceptibility. While tuberculosis is curable
with antibiotics if detected early, and the BCG vaccine offers
some protection in children, prevention remains a major
public health challenge. Its persistence shows how TB
continues to pose a serious threat despite modern medicine.
Means of infection:
The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis usually enters the
body through inhalation of infectious aerosols released by a
person with active TB. Once inside the airways, the bacteria
travel deep into the lungs, where they are engulfed by
immune cells called macrophages. However, instead of being
destroyed, the slow-dividing pathogen survives and replicates
within these cells. In response, the immune system attempts
to contain the infection by forming granulomas—tight clusters
of macrophages, other immune cells, and dead tissue that
trap the bacteria. Within these granulomas, M. tuberculosis
can remain dormant for many years, effectively hidden from
the body’s defenses. Over time, if the immune system
weakens due to factors such as age, malnutrition, or co-
infections like HIV, the granulomas may break down. When
this happens, large numbers of bacteria are released into the
lungs, triggering a strong Immune response. This causes
extensive inflammation, tissue damage, and fluid build-up in
the lungs, which disrupts normal breathing. The breakdown of
granulomas marks the shift from latent to active tuberculosis,
making the disease highly infectious.
Symptoms of Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis presents with a wide range of symptoms, most of
which are related to its damaging effects on the lungs. As the
disease progresses, the lung tissue becomes inflamed and
may fill with fluid, making breathing increasingly difficult. A
persistent cough is one of the earliest and most common
symptoms, and in advanced stages, this cough may produce
blood-tinged sputum due to
tissue damage in the lungs.
Patients often develop a high,
recurring fever accompanied
by night sweats and chills,
which are classic signs of the
body fighting infection.
Another hallmark of TB is
drastic, unexplained weight
loss, often referred to as
“consumption” in historical contexts because of how it
seemed to waste away the body. Fatigue and general
weakness also develop as the body struggles to maintain
energy. Chest pain may occur, especially during coughing or
deep breathing, reflecting the strain on the lungs. In cases
where TB spreads beyond the lungs—called extra pulmonary
tuberculosis—symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes,
back pain if the spine is affected, or blood in the urine if the
kidneys are involved. The combination of chronic cough, fever,
night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue forms the classic picture
of active tuberculosis, which requires immediate medical care.
Prevention of tuberculosis:
Preventing tuberculosis requires a combination of medical,
social, and public health measures because of its highly
contagious nature and global prevalence. One of the most
widely used tools is the Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG)
vaccine, which offers protection primarily for infants and
young children against severe forms of TB, such as meningitis
and military tuberculosis. However, the vaccine is less
effective at preventing pulmonary TB in adults, making other
strategies essential. Early detection and prompt treatment of
active cases play a crucial role in reducing transmission, since
individuals undergoing proper antibiotic therapy quickly
become non-infectious. Public health initiatives also
emphasize improving living conditions, reducing
overcrowding, and ensuring proper ventilation, as TB spreads
more easily in poorly ventilated, crowded environments. For
people with latent TB infections, preventive antibiotic therapy
can significantly lower the risk of progression to active
disease, especially in those with weakened immune systems.
Education and awareness campaigns are equally important,
teaching communities about symptoms, modes of spread, and
the importance of completing treatment to prevent drug
resistance. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure,
particularly in high-burden countries, is critical to controlling
TB. Ultimately, prevention relies on a mix of vaccination,
timely medical care, lifestyle improvements, and global
cooperation to curb this persistent disease.
Treatment of Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis is a curable disease, but successful treatment
requires a strict and prolonged course of antibiotics to
eliminate the slow-growing bacteria. The standard first-line
drugs used in combination therapy are isoniazid, rifampicin,
pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. These four medications are
typically given together during the initial intensive phase of
treatment, which lasts for two months, to rapidly kill actively
dividing bacteria. After
this, isoniazid and
rifampicin are continued
for an additional four
months in the
continuation phase to
clear any remaining
organisms and prevent
relapse. In cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), where
the bacteria do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin,
second-line drugs such as fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin,
moxifloxacin) and injectable agents like amikacin or
capreomycin may be used. Newer medicines such as
bedaquiline and delamanid have also been introduced to
improve outcomes in resistant cases. Strict adherence to
treatment is essential, as incomplete therapy can lead to drug
resistance and treatment failure.
History of Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis is one of the oldest known diseases, with
evidence of its presence in human populations dating back
thousands of years, including signs found in ancient Egyptian
mummies. The causative bacterium, Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, was officially discovered in 1882 by the German
physician Robert Koch, marking a major
breakthrough in medical science and the
understanding of infectious diseases.
Decades later, in 1921, the Bacille
Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine was
developed by French scientists Albert
Calmette and Camille Guérin to prevent
severe forms of TB, particularly in children.
It is most prevalent in regions with poor healthcare
infrastructure, high population density, and limited access to
nutritious food. Countries in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa,
and parts of Latin America report the highest numbers of TB
cases, although the disease exists worldwide. TB has thus
shaped human history for millennia, leaving a lasting impact
on public health, society, and medicine.
Bibliography:
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