Understanding the early host immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract

Generation of immune response is a crucial activity of host defense against any microbial attack. When facultative organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) invades its host, various pathways are activated in the host to mount immune responses against invading pathogen for nullifying its actions. During this host-pathogen interaction, interplay of complex network of cytokines and chemokines, initiation of phagocytosis, and formation of granuloma play an important role in containing MTB infections at host side. Simultaneously, MTB also evolves a plethora of specialized mechanisms to evade the host's killing cascades on other side, and during this bilateral cross-talk, many mycobacterial products play crucial role in survival of MTB inside the host. Hence, a better understanding of these phenomena is necessary not only for getting clear picture of pathogenesis of MTB, but also for developing effective, preventive, and therapeutic modalities against the pathogen. With some suggestions on future work, an insight into diversity of immune response of host against MTB was provided in the present review.

Prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis in polish healthcare workers: the comparison of tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) performance

“…The poor outcomes of TB therapy can be explained by decreasing competences of health care workers as well as non-adherence to treatment attributed to poor social conditions, low education level, unemployment, alcoholism, and homelessness [ 7 ]. The risk factors of LTBI reactivation include: advanced age, poor conditions of life (malnutrition), addictions (alcohol, narcotics, cigarettes), silicosis, other diseases (HIV, diabetes, renal insufficiency, neoplasms), immunosuppressive therapy (especially anti TNF medications) and corticosteroids [ 7 , 8 ]. Thus it is very important to recognise and treat LTBI, to prevent active tuberculosis development, especially in patients belonging to the above mentioned risk groups.…”

Microfluidics as a Novel Technique for Tuberculosis: From Diagnostics to Drug Discovery

“…The molecular pathology by which M. tuberculosis evades the host and causes disease is complex, involving a dynamic range of immune cells. The organism infects the host after the inhalation of droplet nuclei spread by aerosolisation from an infected individual, which then resides in the respiratory tract [10]. There are various types of infection that can manifest from M. tuberculosis in individuals-one where the infection clears, one with an active infection treated with a course of antibiotics, and one which remains in a latent form [11].…”

Microfluidics as a Novel Technique for Tuberculosis: From Di-agnostics to Drug Discovery

“…The molecular pathology by which M. tuberculosis evades the host and causes disease is complex, involving a dynamic range of immune cells. The organism infects the host after inhalation of droplet nuclei spread by aerosolisation from an infected individual, which then resides in the respiratory tract [10]. There are various types of infection that can manifest from M. tuberculosis in individuals -one where the infection clears, one with an active infection treated with a course of antibiotics and one which remains in a latent form [11].…”