Innate immunity in tuberculosis - Essay Example

of the body, and patients would just waste away with no effective intervention; however, to date, this infectious disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics (Schiffman, 2008). Brill et al., (2001) reported that tuberculosis remains to be the major health problem worldwide and because of the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis becomes more significant in the years to come in regions where there is an endemic case of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogen (Brill et al., 2001). Todar (2008) stated that a human immune system is composed of two major subdivisions, namely: (1) Innate or non-specific immune system, and (2) adaptive or specific immune system.

The primary or the first line of defence mechanism against invading organism is known as the innate or non – specific immune system (Todar, 2008). This contains cellular and humoral components by which the protective functions are carried out (Todar, 2008). Junqueira - Kipnis et al (2003) noted that with M. tuberculosis, the innate and adaptive immune systems contributes to the defense of the host. Van Crevel et al (2002) noted that the outcome of the infection depends greatly on the relationship between M.

tuberculosis and the human host. Both the innate and adaptive defense mechanism is involved with respect to the host. Hence, mechanisms to circumvent and antagonise protective immunity have been developed by M. tuberculosis. The component of the innate immune response are formed by phagocytosis and subsequent IL -12 secretion that are initiated in the absence of prior antigen exposure (Raja, 2004). Natural resistance - associated macrophage protein, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and many others are considered as the component of innate immunity.

Raja added that the first line of defense in the innate immunity of M. tuberculosis is played by the plasma lysozyme and other enzymes. Van Crevel et al (2002) noted that macrophages are “main effector cells”