Unique Characteristic Features of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Relation to Immune System

Problem statement: Tuberculosis is a leading global mortality factor which has not been effectively controlled, with 1.7 million deaths per year and 8.9 million new cases. Aerobic microbe Mycobacterium Tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) is the causative agent of tuberculosis. Approach: It is unique among prokaryotes due to its exceptional features contributing to its survival within the hostile environment of macrophages. Results: It modifies both its intracellular and local tissue environment and proliferates within macrophages resulting in caseous granulomas, the characteristic lesions of TB. MTB derived cAMP intoxicates host cells and thus enable MTB for long term persistence within macrophages by modifying its intracellular environment. Apart from these, there are several unique structural components of MTB which interfere in the pathways of immune system and thus eluding it from destruction. Conclusion: The dormant state of MTB is the major factor which provides this pathogen ability to survive host inflammatory mediators and antibiotic treatment. It is indispensable to delineate the unusual features of MTB that enable its escape from the host immune system, in order to design an efficacious drug against the unpardonable form of tuberculosis.