TNF and infection: Impaired killing by macrophages andfailure to induce sterilizingimmunity contribute to persistent infections, but immunotherapieshave the potential to override these pathogenic mechanisms and stimulateprotective host responses., Although cellular immunityand production of cytokines IL-12, interferon-γ (IFN-γ),and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are central to controllingmycobacterial infections, emerging evidencehighlights a protective role for antibodies.−, ,  Prior work has demonstrated thatantibodies increase phagocytosis, inhibit bacterial growth, and augmentT-cell-mediated responses.