Described are 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, the use of these derivatives for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of mycobacteria-induced infections and opportunistic infections, as well as compositions containing at least one 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene derivative and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Furthermore, the present application refers to the use of mycobacterial protein serine/threonine kinases for developing methods for detection and determination of these kinases for recognising and monitoring diseases and for controlling therapy of diseases.