The importance of CD8+ T cells in the control of latent TB infection and immune protection against reactivation TB in humans was convincingly demonstrated by Bruns et al, who have reported that anti-TNF-α immunotherapy with infliximab (a monoclonal antibody against tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-a) used to treat autoimmune diseases) reduced CD8+ T cell-mediated antimicrobial activity against M.tb in humans through the interaction of the antibody with cell surface TNF on the CD8+ T cell and their subsequent complement-mediated lysis [6]. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and tuberculosis.