Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Disease on Immune Responses, Disease Severity and Treatment Outcomes in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Tuberculosis (TB) is the foremost cause of infectious deaths globally. In 2025, an additional 1.4 million TB deaths could occur as direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is postulated that individuals with latent or active TB are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 disease and that COVID-19 disease rate is high in patients with active TB, although the evidence is still scarce. TB and SARS-CoV-2 are both infectious diseases which primarily attack the alveolar region of the lungs and share common symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 disease can induce innate and adaptive immunity, but uncontrolled inflammatory innate immunity and impaired adaptive immune responses may be associated with severe tissue damage, both locally and systemically. People with coinfection (COVID-19 and TB disease) might potentially have impaired protective immune responses and treatment outcomes, specifically as far as anti-tuberculosis treatment is concerned. However, very little is known about the immunological underpinnings in this interface between TB and COVID-19 on the effect of SARS-CoV-2 disease on disease severity, response to treatment and treatment outcomes in pulmonary tuberculosis. Investigators hypothesize that altered immunity due to prior or present asymptomatic disease with SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to altered immune responses and systems biology, increased severity and altered treatment outcomes in TB disease. The main objective of the study would be to evaluate the baseline differences in immune cells populations immune cell responses at baseline and at the time of treatment (2nd month) and end of treatment. Further, Investigators would be evaluating the changes in proteomic profiles in a subset of these individuals. In addition, immunological assays examining differences in T cell populations, measuring levels of various cytokines and by immunophenotyping as well a