Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is soon countered by the host's immune system, the organism is however almost never eradicated; ten per cent of infections will develop into "open tuberculosis", while the other ninety per cent become "latent", a state that can persist for decades until loss of immune control. Approximately 25% of the world's population is estimated to harbour latent tuberculosis. Latent infection involves the bacterium being internalized by phagocytes where it stops and counters the innate immune answer. When a status-quo is reached, Mtb enters a non-replicating persistent state. Weakening of the immune defense sooner or later enables the waking up and multiplication of the bacterium inside the phagocyte, necrosis of the cell, and escape, analogous to the burst of lytic viruses.

Summary from Reactome (R-HSA-9635486), read 2026-09-23.