Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection can be cleared by the innate immune system before the initiation of an adaptive immune response. This innate protection requires a variety of robust cell autonomous responses from many different host immune cell types. However, Mtb has evolved strategies to circumvent some of these defences. In this mini-review, we discuss these host-pathogen interactions with a focus on studies performed in human cells and/or supported by human genetics studies (such as genome-wide association studies).
© 2015 The Authors. Cellular Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.