For the first time, we show that specifically inhibiting MCL-1 and BCL-2 (without inhibition of other anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins like BCL-XL) to induce apoptosis of M.tb infected macrophages: 1) limits M.tb growth in both human and murine macrophages, 2) as expected from a HDT, reduces growth of drug resistant M.tb to a similar extent as drug susceptible M.tb, 3) combines with antibiotic treatment to more effectively reduce M.tb growth than antibiotics or MCL-1 and BCL-2 inhibitors alone and 4) reduces M.tb burden in a pre-clinical human granuloma model. This evidence concerns the gene BCL2L1 and Granuloma.