Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV co-infections place\r\nan immense burden on health care systems and pose\r\nparticular diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Infection\r\nwith HIV is the most powerful known risk factor\r\npredisposing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection\r\nand progression to active disease, which increases the\r\nrisk of latent TB reactivation 20-fold. TB is also the most\r\ncommon cause of AIDS-related death. Thus, M. tuberculosis\r\nand HIV act in synergy, accelerating the decline of\r\nimmunological functions and leading to subsequent\r\ndeath if untreated. The mechanisms behind the breakdown\r\nof the immune defense of the co-infected individual\r\nare not well known. The aim of this review is to highlight\r\nimmunological events that may accelerate the development\r\nof one of the two diseases in the presence of the coinfecting\r\norganism. We also review possible animal\r\nmodels for studies of the interaction of the two\r\npathogens, and describe gaps in knowledge and needs\r\nfor future studies to develop preventive measures against\r\nthe two diseases.
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