The role of host soluble inflammatory mediators induced by the BCG vaccine for the initiation of in vitro monocyte apoptosis in healthy Brazilian volunteers.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the second greatest killer worldwide that is caused by a single infectious agent. For its control, studies of TB vaccines are needed. Since Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only vaccine against TB currently in use, studies addressing the protective role of BCG in the context of inducible inflammatory mediators are urgently required.