Potential of immunomodulatory biomolecules from Indonesia's volcanic soil microbiome for tuberculosis immunotherapy: A conceptual perspective

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem, with substantial incidence and mortality worldwide, including in Indonesia. The prolonged duration of standard antibiotic-based therapy and the growing risk of drug resistance have highlighted the need for complementary therapeutic approaches, including immunotherapy. Indonesia possesses volcanic soil ecosystems enriched with extremophilic microbiomes that may represent a potential source of immunomodulatory biomolecules. However, their possible relevance to TB immunotherapy remains underexplored. This review aimed to discuss the potential of volcanic soil microbiomes as a source of immunomodulatory biomolecules for TB immunotherapy and to introduce GeoImmunology Nusantara as a conceptual framework linking geological environments, microbial ecology, and host immune modulation. It outlines the immunological basis of host-directed therapeutic approaches, examines the potential role of microbial-derived biomolecules in modulating host immune responses, and highlights the significance of Indonesia’s volcanic environments as a source of biological diversity. In addition, this review presents GeoImmunology Nusantara as an integrative framework to support the development of locally grounded strategies for TB immunotherapy.