Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a very successful pathogen that can survive and persist in the
human host in the face of a robust immune response. This immune response is sufficient to
prevent disease in the majority of infected persons, providing compelling evidence that
immunity to tuberculosis is possible. However, it is more striking that the strong immune
response is not generally effective at eliminating the organisms, during either initial infection
or the persistent or latent phase of infection. Studies in animal models and in humans have …