Developing host-directed therapies against resistant tuberculosis requires a better understanding of the changes in the innate immune response of the peripheral blood monocytes. Here, we investigated the phagocytic capacity of blood phagocytes, the changing of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and autophagy process of circulating monocytes in untreated tuberculosis patients. Phagocytic capacity of blood phagocytes and the expression of key regulators of the mTOR pathway were analysed using flow cytometry. We detected the mRNA and protein expression of autophagy proteins using RT-PCR and capillary western blotting. Compared with healthy controls, the increase of monocytes phagocytizing E.coli was lower in tuberculosis patients after 37°C activation (15.46% vs. 23.31%); The percentages of Rheb+ and mTOR+ Raptor+ circulating monocytes were higher, while that of AMPK+ monocytes were lower. Although ATG5 and ATG12 mRNA expression increased, the protein complex expression was decreased in the monocytes of tuberculosis patients. Beclin-1 and ULK1 Ser 757 levels were increased at both transcriptional and protein levels; LC3 II protein level also was higher. Our current study suggests a decrease in the phagocytic capacity of circulating monocytes, accompanied by autophagy activation in active tuberculosis patients.