Currently, controlling the source of infection, interrupting transmission pathways, and protecting susceptible populations are key measures in tackling MTB infection. However, preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions for TB are also important in reducing the burden of the disease. First, in terms of preventing MTB infection, the Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin vaccine, the only known vaccine with some protective effects, has limited efficacy and duration of protection in adults. Therefore, the development of multiple vaccines with preventative efficacy may offer new strategies for susceptible populations. Second, in the diagnosis of MTB infection, current diagnostic technologies lack high specificity and sensitivity, and cannot differentiate LTBI from ATB. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers related to immune mechanisms for diagnostic purposes may be an important goal in improving tuberculosis diagnosis efficiency. Last, in the treatment of MTB infection, challenges arise from the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy drugs and the emergence of MDR‐TB. Thus, the use of immunomodulatory cytokines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and therapeutic vaccines in combination with anti‐TB chemotherapy drugs may represent effective approaches for TB treatment.
【저자키워드】 immune response, Biomarkers, diagnostic methods, Immune checkpoints, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Tuberculosis (TB), therapeutic vaccines,