Immunological characterization of antigens encoded by the RD1 region of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome

Citation
Pn. Brusasca et al., Immunological characterization of antigens encoded by the RD1 region of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, SC J IMMUN, 54(5), 2001, pp. 448-452
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology
Journal title
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
03009475 → ACNP
Volume
54
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
448 - 452
Database
ISI
SICI code
0300-9475(200111)54:5<448:ICOAEB>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Development of immunoassays specific for the diagnosis of tuberculosis requ ires antigens unique to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In a search for such an tigens we tested six proteins encoded by RD1, a region present in M. tuberc ulosis and virulent M. bovis genomes but missing from the DNA of all substr ains of M. bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The six proteins (Rv3871, Rv3872, Rv3873, MTSA-10, ESAT-6 and Rv3878) were purified to near-homogenei ty from recombinant Escherichia coli. When tested for the ability to elicit antibody responses and delayed type hypersensitivity in tuberculous guinea pigs, only two of six antigens, ESAT-6 and MTSA-10, elicited strong skin r eactions, while vigorous antibody responses were observed to all six protei ns. When antibody responses to RD1 antigens were evaluated in sera from pat ients having pulmonary tuberculosis and from control subjects (patients hav ing mycobacterioses other than tuberculosis, and healthy persons), a sizeab le proportion (25%) of tuberculosis patients but none of the control subjec ts, had antibodies against MTSA-10 and/or ESAT-6. We conclude that MTSA-10 and ESAT-6 are promising candidates for immunodiagnostic assays specific fo r tuberculosis.