AUTHOR=Mi Jie , Liang Yan , Liang Jianqin , Gong Wenping , Wang Shuyong , Zhang Junxian , Li Zhiming , Wu Xueqiong 

TITLE=The Research Progress in Immunotherapy of Tuberculosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.763591

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2021.763591

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem worldwide. The combination of various anti-TB drugs is mainly used to treat TB in clinical practice. Despite the availability of effective antibiotics, effective treatment regimens still require long-term use of multiple drugs, leading to toxicity, low patient compliance, and the development of drug resistance. It has been confirmed that immune recognition, immune response, and immune regulation of <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> (<italic>Mtb</italic>) determine the occurrence, development, and outcome of diseases after <italic>Mtb</italic> infection. The research and development of TB-specific immunotherapy agents can effectively regulate the anti-TB immune response and provide a new approach toward the combined treatment of TB, thereby preventing and intervening in populations at high risk of TB infection. These immunotherapy agents will promote satisfactory progress in anti-TB treatment, achieving the goal of “ultra-short course chemotherapy.” This review highlights the research progress in immunotherapy of TB, including immunoreactive substances, tuberculosis therapeutic vaccines, chemical agents, and cellular therapy.</p>