Autophagy as an immune effector against tuberculosis.

Highlights: [•] Autophagy is involved in control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. [•] Autophagy can directly kill M. tuberculosis by a variety of mechanisms. [•] Autophagy can also modulate systemic immune responses in vivo during M. tuberculosis infection. [•] There are genetic links between autophagy and M. tuberculosis susceptibility in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]