Lessons from the murine experimental model of tuberculosis: The need to reconsider some topics

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is probably one of the microorganisms best adapted to evade the human immune system. Several key mechanisms allow it to remain inside the tissue cells of the host for a long time. Among them, its low growth rate, and the ability to face the stress conditions triggered against it by adapting its metabolism and stopping its growth. The murine experimental model of tuberculosis has been deeply studied, and it is the basis for progressing on the knowledge of its pathology, diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment. But far from the classical infallibility of the murine resistance against M. tuberculosis, nowadays its response is being reconsidered. Susceptibility is induced by several factors, among them, the «escape» of latent bacilli from the granuloma vehicled by foamy macrophages, which has been poorly studied. Such mechanism could be a good explanation for the origin of tuberculosis latency.