Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

3.7K
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
3.7K
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

88.5K
Overview
88.5K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

8.5K
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
8.5K
Pulmonary Tuberculosis II01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis II

2.4K
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While its primary impact is on the lungs, leading to pulmonary tuberculosis, it can also affect various other organs, a condition referred to as extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
2.4K
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

4.6K
The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
4.6K
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

943
Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...
943

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Integrating chemical, genetic, and feasibility assessments for anti-tubercular target validation.

EMBO molecular medicine·2026
Same author

Diaryl-Aminoindazole with Extensive In Vitro Mycobactericidal Activity Dependent on Exposure to Reactive Nitrogen Species.

ACS infectious diseases·2026
Same author

The immunoproteasome regulates ILC2 responses by modulating mitochondrial capacity.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Genes required for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> to survive the transition from aerosol to pulmonary alveolar lining fluid and early infection in a model of transmission.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium kansasii</i> and <i>Rhodococcus equi</i> induce macrophage necroptosis in the presence of a caspase inhibitor acting on a non-canonical target(s).

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Desiccation-induced DNA damage facilitates drug resistance in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same journal

From Parasite to Pill: Harnessing Biology for Breakthroughs in Antimalarial Drug Discovery.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine·2026
Same journal

Malaria Parasite Genomics: Decentralization, Diversification, and Development Goals.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine·2026
Same journal

Tuberculosis Infection: Diagnosis and Management.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine·2026
Same journal

HIV-Associated Tuberculosis in Adults: Diagnosis and Clinical Management.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine·2026
Same journal

Dermatophytes: Global Pandemic, Multidrug Resistance, Human-to-Human, and Sexual Transmission.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine·2026
Same journal

The Global Epidemiology of Tuberculosis: Burden, Trends, and Determinants.

Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
09:34

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis

Published on: August 16, 2021

2.4K

Cell-Autonomous Defense against Tuberculosis.

Carl Nathan1, John MacMicking2,3,4,5

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10065, USA cnathan@med.cornell.edu john.macmicking@yale.edu.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
|April 17, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) relies on activated macrophages and key cytokines like interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These activate pathways that kill or restrain Mtb, though often incompletely.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis
06:26

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis

Published on: July 28, 2023

3.3K
Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
06:32

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice

Published on: September 19, 2016

11.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 19, 2026

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
09:34

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis

Published on: August 16, 2021

2.4K
Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis
06:26

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis

Published on: July 28, 2023

3.3K
Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
06:32

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice

Published on: September 19, 2016

11.3K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Activated macrophages are crucial for host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection.
  • The efficacy of macrophage-mediated Mtb elimination varies significantly across populations, individuals, and infection stages.
  • Genetic studies highlight the importance of macrophage-activating cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in protective immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the macrophage-autonomous effector pathways involved in controlling Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection.
  • To elucidate the role of cytokines and downstream antimicrobial mechanisms in host defense against tuberculosis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of genetic studies and immunological literature.
  • Analysis of macrophage effector programs and their downstream agents.

Main Results:

  • Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are key cytokines that activate macrophage effector functions against Mtb.
  • Downstream effectors include reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNS/ROS), lysosomal and autophagic defenses, antimicrobial peptides, metabolites, and metal ion-binding proteins.
  • These pathways create a toxic environment or deplete essential nutrients for Mtb, leading to bacterial restraint or killing.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophage-autonomous effector pathways are essential for controlling Mtb infection.
  • Despite the effectiveness of these host defenses, Mtb's evolutionary fitness allows for incomplete immune sterilization, enabling most infected individuals to remain disease-free.