Content area
Full Text
Statement of the Problem: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public health problem worldwide, and it is estimated that 1/3 of world population could be latently infected by Mycobacterium spp. Active TB represents a big challenge for treatment due to the natural resistance of bacteria to common antibiotics, and to the emergence of multidrug resistant strains. The development of active disease results from the host inability to effectively counteract the bacteria. In this context, both innate and acquired immunity have been taken in account as important factors for protection against TB. Nod like receptors (NLRs) and the cytoplasmic complex known as inflammasome are responsible for caspase-1 activation and the consequent production...