Immunological Host Responses Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. Bovis Infection: A Review

The immune response against tuberculosis (TB) plays a fundamental role in the outcome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and M. bovis (Mbs) infection. The host’s innate immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells interact with Mtb and Mbs. And as such express a variety of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), Nod-like receptors (NLRs) and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs). All these receptors have been implicated in the recognition and uptake of Mtb and Mbs by various innate immune defense-associated cellular functions, such as phagocytosis, autophagy, apoptosis and inflammasome activation. In view of this, the present review article provides an updated overview and a better understanding of the cellular and molecular immune mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions that could provide a rational basis for the development of effective anti-TB therapeutics and diagnosis of the disease.