On macrophage response to primary <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> in humans

Eduardo Ibargüen-Mondragón; Sandra P. Hidalgo-Bonilla; Miller Cerón Gómez; Eduardo Ibargüen-Mondragón; Sandra P. Hidalgo-Bonilla; Miller Cerón Gómez

doi:10.3934/mbe.2025092

Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering

2025, Volume 22, Issue 9: 2506-2525. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2025092

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Research article

On macrophage response to primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans

1.
Departamento de Matemáticas y Estadística, Universidad de Nariño, Calle 18-Cra 50, Pasto 520002, Colombia
2.
Grupo de Investigación en Biología Matemática y Matemática Aplicada (GIBIMMA), Universidad de Nariño, C.U. Torobajo, Cll 18 - Cra 50, Pasto 520002, Colombia
3.
School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Yachay Tech University, Hacienda San José 100650, Urcuquí, Imbabura, Ecuador
4.
Yachay Tech Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (MedChem-YT), Yachay Tech University, Hacienda San José 100650, Urcuquí, Imbabura, Ecuador

Academic Editor: Dobromir T. Dimitrov

Received: 02 June 2025 Revised: 01 July 2025 Accepted: 14 July 2025 Published: 28 July 2025

Tuberculosis stands as the leading cause of death worldwide, driven by infection from a single bacterial agent, and has been recognized as a global public health concern by the World Health Organization. Recent studies highlight that the innate immune response has a central role in controlling the initial spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) within the host, and triggers adaptive immune response. We developed and analyzed a model examining the interactions among macrophages, innate cells, and Mtb to determine whether the infection is controlled by the innate immune response or whether a specific adaptive response is triggered. Findings suggest that if an individual infected by Mtb has an adequate immunological state to prevent bacteria from infecting the macrophage population (that is, if the external bacteria engulfed by macrophages are eliminated by them, or if their capacity to replicate inside them is limited), then the innate immune response will effectively control the primary infection.
- tuberculosis,
- innate immune response,
- within-host model,
- ordinary differential equation,
- qualitative analysis,
- normalized sensitivity index
Citation: Eduardo Ibargüen-Mondragón, Sandra P. Hidalgo-Bonilla, Miller Cerón Gómez. On macrophage response to primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans[J]. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 2025, 22(9): 2506-2525. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2025092

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Abstract

Tuberculosis stands as the leading cause of death worldwide, driven by infection from a single bacterial agent, and has been recognized as a global public health concern by the World Health Organization. Recent studies highlight that the innate immune response has a central role in controlling the initial spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) within the host, and triggers adaptive immune response. We developed and analyzed a model examining the interactions among macrophages, innate cells, and Mtb to determine whether the infection is controlled by the innate immune response or whether a specific adaptive response is triggered. Findings suggest that if an individual infected by Mtb has an adequate immunological state to prevent bacteria from infecting the macrophage population (that is, if the external bacteria engulfed by macrophages are eliminated by them, or if their capacity to replicate inside them is limited), then the innate immune response will effectively control the primary infection.

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