Immunity towards tuberculosis infection: A review

Immune response represents the initial arm of host defense against Koch’s bacillus. This review describes and discusses current knowledge of the host’s immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. To improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis, more rapid diagnostic techniques have been investigated in recent years, such as mediators, receptors and activators of immunity, gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, reactive nitrogen intermediates, T cells, and natural killer. We consider it a first priority to implement programs of education for the development of a strategy to prevent tuberculosis. It is recommended to implement an immunotherapy treatment following chemotherapy to prevent reactivation of the bacillus due to the presence of latent bacilli in tissues. Key words: Immune response, prevention, control, reactivation, nitric oxide, interferon, latent infection, granuloma, Mycobacterium.