**Dedication**

"*La tisi non le accorda che poche ore*" From "La Traviata" by G. Verdi

 Dear readers I spent most of my life in the battle against *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*. My retirement is approaching and this special issue will conclude perfectly my TB research. I would like to dedicate it to Vita Quinci, one of the most positive student I had in my Lab, affected from Progressive Ossifying Fibrodysplasia, who suddenly died on May 1st. Her last message to me was: "Life is beautiful". 

Giovanna Riccardi 

Vita Quinci: "La vita è bella" (life is beautiful)
