Immunology of tuberculosis and novel vaccination strategies

Even in the 21st century, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the main health threats to mankind and is considered a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. A high infection rate by the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that persists in the host until a weakened immune systems allows it to spread, and an expensive and complicated anti-TB chemotherapy underline the urgent requirement for the development of an effective new vaccine. Increasing rates of multidrug resistant TB e.g. in countries of the former Soviet Union and in China aggravate the health problems caused by M. tuberculosis. This article reviews the immunology of TB in humans and presents current strategies and developments for a new vaccine.