RESUMO
Human and bovine tuberculosis (TB) are currently a serious health problem in Latin America. Although the causal agents were discovered more than one century ago, the control of these illnesses is still beyond our reach: human TB accounts for more than one hundred deaths each day in this region, whereas bovine TB represents a public health risk as well as a major economic problem. We herein analyze the situation of human and bovine TB in Latin America, and present studies from our laboratories on bacterial virulence factors, intrinsic resistance features in the host, and the protective response induced in cattle through vaccination or immunization. Finally, the convenience for implementing and/or revising the use of currently available tools for TB control in the region is discussed.