Immunity against Tuberculosis Infection

Abstract

The immune response represents the initial arm of host defense against Koch’s bacillus. The present research describes and discusses current knowledge of the host immune response to infection by M. tuberculosis, with emphasis on the roles of antimycobacterial effector functions of macrophages, T cells, mediators, receptors and activators of immunity as Toll-like receptors and the impact on the innate response to Mycobacterium. Specifically, we summarize studies addressing of the pathogen that multiplies in the alveolar macrophages, but in most of the cases it causes bacteriostasis where the pathogen is in a nonreplicating state latent (dormant) and resistant to drugs. In addition, we also focus on the induction, specificity, and effector functions have been investigated in recent years, such as gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric oxide, reactive nitrogen intermediates, and natural killer. Our top priority is to implement educational programs that will enable the creation of a vital tuberculosis prevention strategy. It is recommended to use immunotherapy after chemotherapy to prevent reactivation of the bacillus due to the presence of latent bacilli in tissues.