DELINEATION OF HUMAN-ANTIBODY RESPONSES TO CULTURE FILTRATE ANTIGENS OF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS

This study was undertaken to define the antigens in culture filtrates of actively replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis that are recognized by antibodies from tuberculosis (TB) patients. Two-dimensional Wester n blots were probed with sera from healthy controls and TB patients th at were preabsorbed with Escherichia coli lysates to deplete cross-rea ctive antibodies. Antibodies from TB patients recognized 26 of the >10 0 culture filtrate proteins, and the repertoire changed with disease p rogression. Only 12 of 26 antigens, including 3 proteins implicated in colonization and invasion by mycobacteria (MPT51, MPT32, and 85C), an d 9 (as yet undefined proteins) were reactive with sera from TB patien ts with early noncavitary or cavitary disease. Eight additional antige ns, including 4 undefined proteins, were recognized only by sera from a subset of patients with advanced cavitary disease. Studies suggest t hat 3 of the antigens recognized by sera from patients with early TB ( 85C, MPT32, and a 88-kDa protein) have strong serodiagnostic potential .