CROSS-REACTIVITY OF ANTI-10KD HEAT-SHOCK-PROTEIN ANTIBODIES IN LEPROSY AND TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

The response to recombinant 10-kD heat shock protein (HSP) of Mycobact erium leprae (rML10) was evaluated by indirect ELISA in sera from lepr osy patients, household contacts, tuberculosis patients and healthy co ntrols in a leprosy-endemic area in the North East of Argentina. Some technical parameters were analyzed: within-assay and between-assay var iability, dose-response curves and detectability indexes (specificity and sensitivity) of ELISA applied to measure anti-10kDa antibodies. Hi gh levels of these antibodies have already been reported in positive b acilloscopy patients; herein we have also demonstrated that tuberculos is patients sera cross-react with this M. leprae antigen. This test se ems to have a low sensitivity and specificity for leprosy detection; i t confirms that antibodies against highly conserved HSP antigens are i mportant in the polyclonal response against mycobacterial epitopes in leprosy as well as in tuberculosis.