DISTRIBUTION OF SURFACE-EXPOSED ANTIGENIC GLYCOLIPIDS IN RECENT CLINICAL ISOLATES OFF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS

The distribution of surface-exposed antigenic glycolipids in seven rec ent clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was established. T hin-layer and liquid chromatographies revealed a uniformity in the gly colipid pattern. Chemical analysis of the individual glycolipids of a selected strain enabled the identification of glycolipids of serologic al interest in all the other clinical isolates. Phenolic glycolipid-Tb 1 (PGL-Tb1) was lacking in all strains, but appreciable amounts of;a p artially deglycosylated version (PGL-Tb1D) were present in the seven i solates, Diacyltrehaloses (DATs) were detected in all strains, showing themselves to be major glycolipids, Lipooligosaccharides (LOS-II) wer e present in the seven strains studied though only in trace amounts, T hese results shed new light on the open debate on the distribution of these interesting glycolipids in typical clinical isolates of M. tuber culosis. In the search for a serological test for tuberculosis, and in accordance with our observations, we believe that PGL-Tb1 and LOS-II should not be the target molecules for serology and that it is worthwh ile to continue investigating the value of DATs as antigens, We also b elieve that it would be of interest to undertake research to assess th e usefulness of PGL-Tb1D as an antigen.