Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein antigens ES-3 1, ES-43 and EST-6 of diagnostic interest from tubercle bacilli by affinity chromatography

Immunodiagnostically useful M. tuberculosis H37Ra protein antigens ES-31, ES-43 and EST-6 were isolated from detergent soluble sonicate (DSS) antigen using monospecific antibodies by affinity chromatography and compared with similar antigens isolated from M. tuberculosis culture filtrate for seroreactivity in tuberculosis sera by Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Recovery of affinity purified ES-31, ES-43 and EST-6 antigen from DSS antigen was approximately 3, 3.5 and 4% respectively, compared to 10, 9 and 6.3% from culture filtrate. Affinity purified ES-31, ES-43 and EST-6 antigens from both culture filtrate as well as DSS antigen showed similar seroreactivity with overall sensitivity 85, 80 and 75% respectively and specificity of 85% at optimum concentration of 50 pg protein of each antigen. The results suggest that DSS antigen may be a promising antigen source for isolating antigens of diagnostic interest obviating the need for cumbersome, time-consuming culture techniques of mycobacteria.     

Detection of in vitro and in vivo released antigens of diagnostic interest in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by immunoblotting

Identification of in vitro and in vivo released mycobacterial antigens are of considerable interest in diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Isolation of in vitro released antigen from M. tb excretory-secretory culture filtrate protein and in vivo released circulating tuberculous antigen from smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis sera by ammonium sulphate precipitation is reported. The antigens were resolved by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting was performed using pooled serum of smear positive, smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis sera and normal sera to identify reactive tuberculous antigens. In vitro and in vivo released mycobacterial antigens showed reactivity at 100, 31, 43 and 20 kDa with smear positive and smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Further, the in vitro released antigen showed strong reactivity exclusively at 55 kDa antigen with smear positive and 24 kDa antigen with smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis sera. In vivo released antigen reacted exclusively at 170 and 16 kDa with smear positive and 19 kDa antigen with smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Antigens of 24 and 19 kDa which are reactive with sputum negative sera will be of diagnostic interest and need further study in patients with low bacillary load. The in vitro and in vivo released mycobacterial 100, 31,43 and 20 kDa antigens, reactive with patients sera are of diagnostic interest in tuberculosis.     

The identification of antigenic determinants on Mycobacterium bovis using monoclonal antibodies

Murine hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies to Mycobacterium bovis were produced and three soluble antigens were identified using radioimmunoassays and immunoblotting from polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels. Antibody MB3 (IgM, k chain) reacted with 20-100 kDal antigens produced by all mycobacterial strains examined while antibody MB5 (IgG2a, k chain) identified a 29.8 kDal antigen detected in field isolates of M. bovis and M. bovis strains Vallée and AN5. There was insignificant binding to M. bovis BCG, M. tuberculosis, M. microti, M. africanum, M. avium or M. paratuberculosis. Monoclonal antibody MB17 (IgA, k chain) reacted with a 17.4 kDal antigen present in M. bovis, M. tuberculosis and M. microti. Absorption of monoclonal antibodies with antigens from different species of Mycobacterium confirmed the specificities of MB3 and MB5 but the binding of MB17 was inhibited to some extent by all the extracts examined. The antigen identified by MB3 was present in purified protein derivative (PPD) from M. bovis, M. paratuberculosis and M. avium but antigens identified by MB5 and MB17 were not detected in these reagents.     

Immunosensor for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on screen-printed carbon electrodes

In this work, two methods have been compared to produce enzymatic voltammetric immunosensors for the determination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens (Ag360 and Ag231), using a pre-oxidised screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) as a signal transduction element. The enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP) was used in combination with the substrate 3-indoxyl phosphate (3-IP). In one design, the immune complexes between M. tuberculosis antigens and monoclonal antibodies against M. tuberculosis were formed out of the electrode surface. Then, the immune complexes were captured by biotinylated rabbit anti-M. tuberculosis antibodies, immobilised on the streptavidin modified SPCEs through the streptavidin:biotin reaction. Finally, an alkaline phosphatase (AP) labelled rabbit IgG anti-mouse immunoglobulin G was used as a detector antibody. In the other design, the M. tuberculosis antigens were captured by monoclonal antibodies against M. tuberculosis, which were immobilised on the electrode surface through the reaction with rabbit IgG passively adsorbed on the SPCEs. The biotinylated rabbit anti-M. tuberculosis antibodies were used with an alkaline phosphatase labelled streptavidin as detector antibodies. The best results for M. tuberculosis antigen determination were obtained using the immunosensor on the streptavidin modified SPCEs and the immune complexes between antigen Ag231 and monoclonal antibodies MabF184-3, with a detection limit of 1.0 ng/ml. The immunosensor was also applied to Ag231 spiked proteic matrices.     

Characterization of serologic and cell-mediated reactivity of a 38-kDa antigen isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

An antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with an m.w. of 38,000 has been isolated by affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody. This antibody bound only to an antigen found in M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. The specificity of the antigen was tested in a vertical study by immunodetection on western blots reacted with hyperimmune sera against M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and 10 other Mycobacterium species. The antigen was detected only by antisera to M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. Specificity in cell-mediated immunity was tested by skin tests in guinea pigs sensitized with M. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium kansasii and by lymphocyte proliferation tests. The 38-kDa antigen induced positive skin test reactions regardless of the Mycobacterium species used to sensitize the animal. The ability of the 38-kDa antigen to sensitize for cell-mediated immunity was tested by injecting mice with the 38-kDa antigen and challenging their lymphocytes in vitro with various mycobacterial antigens. Lymphocyte proliferation was observed in the presence of 38-kDa antigen, M. tuberculosis sonicate antigen, and tuberculin purified protein derivative and to M. kansasii and M. intracellulare. The 38-kDa antigen may contain a specific epitope detected by serology, but also contains epitopes that are cross-reactive for cellular immunity.     

A dot-immunobinding assay (dot-Iba) for rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

IgG antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the sera of patients with 'definite' pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) was isolated and coupled with Cyanogen bromide-Sepharose 4B. Using an immunoabsorbent affinity chromatography, 14 kDa antigen was recovered from the culture filtrates of M. tuberculosis. With this mycobacterial antigen, a dot immunobinding assay (Dot-Iba) was developed for the detection of specific antibody to M. tuberculosis in the sera of patients with PT and controls. The assay gave positive results in all the 12 sputum-smear positive [acid fast bacilli (AFB)] patients with PT and gave negative results in the 50 sera from control groups. The Dot-Iba as described in this study, is simple, rapid and specific for laboratory diagnosis of PT.     

Purification and characterization of a 36 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium leprae

A 36 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium leprae was purified by phenol biphasic partition followed by preparative SDS-PAGE. The purified antigen appeared as a single band in SDS-PAGE and eluted as a single peak in ion-exchange chromatography. The antigen comprised epitopes which were cross-reactive with M. tuberculosis, as well as a species-specific epitope (recognized by MAb F47-9). Different treatments of the 36 kDa antigen suggested it to be largely protein in nature; the amino acid composition of 81% of the antigen was determined. A majority of sera from leprosy patients contained antibodies recognizing the 36 kDa antigen.     

Seroreactivity of purified Brugia malayi microfilarial soluble and excretory-secretory antigens in different clinical presentations of bancroftian filariasis

Brugia malayi microfilarial excretory-secretory (mf ES) and phosphate buffer saline soluble (mf S) antigens were fractionated by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on superdex 200 HR 10/30 gel filtration column. The active antigen fractions were identified and explored in comparison with whole mf ES and mf S antigens to detect filarial IgG antibodies in different groups viz microfilaraemics, acute, chronic and occult filarial cases of Wuchereria bancrofti infection and endemic and non-endemic normals. One of the fractions of mf ES antigen (ESF-6) and two fractions of mf S antigen (SF-2 & 3) were identified to be useful to detect filarial antibodies. A pooled preparation of these antigen fractions gave a sensitivity of 86.6% (for microfilaraemic cases) and a specificity of 95% to detect filarial IgG antibodies by indirect ELISA. The pooled FPLC purified mf antigens also showed 55-88% of cases of different grades of clinical filariasis and 65% of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia cases as positive for filarial antibodies. The pooled FPLC purified B. malayi mf antigens with higher specificity are preferable to whole mf ES and mf S antigens to detect active filarial infection in microfilaraemia and as well in different clinical entities of bancroftian filariasis.     

Purification and characterization of three immunodominant proteins (38, 30, and 16 kDa) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Specific mycobacterial antigens are an important prerequisite in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Many studies have reported the use of both native and recombinant proteins. Even though recombinant proteins can form standardized reagents with unlimited supply, their diagnostic test characteristics were not satisfactory in some cases. In this study we have purified the 38-, 30- (antigen 85B), and 16-kDa native antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by procedures with limited number of steps. Starting with the secreted antigens of M. tuberculosis H37Rv, the 38-kDa form was purified by preparative isoelectric focusing, followed by preparative electrophoresis. Separation of antigen 85 components was achieved by anion-exchange chromatography, followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Gel-permeation chromatography was employed for the isolation of the 16-kDa form, from the cytosol fraction of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. By using a minimal number of steps, considerable yields of these proteins were obtained without loss of immunological activity. The native proteins purified were characterized by analytical two-dimensional electrophoresis, HPLC, and circular dichroism studies. Conformation of the native 38-kDa form purified in our laboratory was different from that of the recombinant 38-kDa form from the WHO Bank. The identities of these native antigens were established by immunoblotting with known monoclonal antibodies from the WHO Bank.     

Effects of chromium on the immune system

The performance of integral membrane antigens (IMAs) of Mycobacterium habana TMC 5135 in detecting antimycobacterial antibodies in serum and body fluids of patients mainly of extrapulmonary tuberculosis was evaluated. The IMAs were recovered from the detergent phase during Triton X-114 treatment of the plasma membrane of M. habana. Antimycobacterial antibodies were detected by ELISA using IMAs in serum and body fluids of 42 patients and 62 control subjects. As authentic adjunct Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens were also detected (by ELISA) in body fluids and circulating immune complexes using anti-M. tuberculosis H37Ra antibodies. Anti-M. habana IMA antibody detection increased the positivity rate from 26.% (11/42) and 10% (4/42) obtained by culture and smear microscopy, respectively, to 86% (36/42). M. tuberculosis antigens were also found in 29 out of 36 anti-M. habana IMA antibody-positive cases. Interestingly, all 11 culture-positive cases were also positive for anti-M. habana IMA antibodies. The mean antigen titres in 23 cases, positive for antigens in body fluids, were 2.34 times higher in those who were also positive for anti-IMA antibodies in serum than in those negative for these antibodies. M. habana IMAs may be promising non-tubercular candidate antigens in ELISA-based serodiagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with substantial sensitivity, specificity and safety.     

Isolation and structural characteristics of a monoclonal antibody-defined cross-reactive phospholipid antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae.

A low molecular weight antigen of Mycobacterium leprae and other mycobacteria was previously defined in our laboratory by means of IgG2a monoclonal antibody termed L4. The antigen had an apparent molecular mass of 4.5-6 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was assumed to be a glycoprotein on the basis of its staining with periodic acid Schiff and sensitivity to periodate treatment. In the present work, the cross-reactive and phospholipidic nature of the antigen, present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as in M. leprae sonicates, was demonstrated and this enabled us to undertake its purification from crude M. tuberculosis phospholipidic extracts. The L4-reactive antigen from M. tuberculosis called L4-PIM, was purified by means of silicic acid high pressure liquid chromatography. Its characterization by gas chromatography and FAB-MS showed the antigen to be the common mycobacterial dimannosylated phosphatidylinositol (PIM2), the structure of which had been previously established by others (Lee, Y. C., and Ballou, C. E. (1964) J. Biol. Chem. 239, 1316-1327; Lee, Y. C., and Ballou, C. E. (1965) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 4, 1395-1404). Delineation of the L4 epitope on M. tuberculosis L4-PIM revealed the involvement of the axial 2-hydroxyl of the alpha-D-mannosyl residues, without any detectable contribution from the myo-inositol. Consequently, L4 was shown to react with PIM5, the structure of which contains twice the number of epitopes as does PIM2. By using both immunostained thin layer chromatography and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, similar L4-PIM epitopes were demonstrated in M. leprae sonicate, thereby explaining the cross-reactive nature of the L4-monoclonal antibody. Antibodies of IgG class directed against M. tuberculosis L4-PIM were detectable in sera from patients with leprosy, but no evidence of T cell reactivity to L4-PIM was obtained. The demonstration of a correlation of anti-L4-PIM IgG and anti-disacharide-conjugated bovine serum albumin IgM antibody titers in the sera of leprosy patients indicates that measurement of antibodies directed against L4-PIM may have the potential to be used as a complementary assay to the disaccharide-conjugated bovine serum albumin test for diagnosis and monitoring of patients undergoing leprosy therapy.     

Purification of modified mycobacterial A60 antigen by affinity chromatography and its use for rapid diagnostic tuberculosis infection

Tuberculosis has been declared a global emergency. The mainstay for its control is the rapid and accurate identification of infected individual. Antibodies to A60, one of the macromolecular antigen complexes of mycobacteria were commonly used in the rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to prepare specific antibodies against A60 for detection of tuberculosis infection. Specific polyclonal antibodies against A60, (A60-Ab) were prepared in rabbits using 2 boosted injections of the antigen (A60). The antibodies were purified and treated with normal oral flora to remove any non-specific and cross-reactive antibodies. These antibodies were conjugated to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B and used to isolate subunits of A60 with more specificity for M. tuberculosis. A new affinity column was designed to prepare modified (purified) A60 antigen. Purified A60 antigen (PA60-Ag) was used to develop antibody production by Immunoaffinity chromatography. 113 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary TB at Pasteur Institute were selected for the study. The specificity of the results was analyzed with TB-rapid test by using PA60-antibodies. TB-rapid test revealed that normal oral flora-absorbed antibodies could lead to more specific results than that of the non-absorbed antibodies. The developed, modified A60 antibodies, (PA60-Ab)-rapid test showed higher sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) and overall efficiency (93.0%, 86.0%, 90.0%, 91.0%, and 90.0% respectively) for the detection of the Mycobacterium antigen. Moreover, PA60-Ag showed only two protein bands of molecular weight 45 and 66 kDa in SDS-PAGE while untreated A60 showed multiple bands. Thus, our study helped in the purification of a novel and well characterized A60 antigen and good diagnostic potential for detecting tuberculosis infection.     

Potential application of dot-immunobinding assay as a rapid diagnostic test in tuberculous meningitis

A simple dot-immunobinding assay (Dot-Iba) in nitrocellulose paper was developed for the detection of specific IgG antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 and mycobacterial antigen in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The assay gave 77.1% sensitivity for the detection of IgG antibody to M. tuberculosis antigen 5 and 48.6% sensitivity for the detection of mycobacterial antigen in patients with TBM.     

Trichinella spiralis: light microscope monoclonal antibody localization and immunochemical characterization of phosphorylcholine and other antigens in the muscle larva

A panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to examine the structure of the muscle larva of Trichinella spiralis under the light microscope. Immunofluorescence and, in some cases, immunoperoxidase staining were used. All four antibodies reacted with the cuticle of the organism, although differences in the staining pattern were observed for some of these. Interestingly, all the antibodies also reacted with the stichosome. One of the antibodies (Ts2Ab) is specific for the hapten, phosphorylcholine. In a binding assay, this antibody also reacted with extracts of Trichuris suis, Ascaris suum, and Fasciolopsis buski, but not with extracts derived from Cysticercus cellulosae, Candida albicans, Salmonella typhi, or Escherichia coli. This crossreactivity was confirmed microscopically in which the cuticle, oviduct and eggs of T. suis, the cuticle, muscle cells, and eggs of A. suum, and the cuticle and vitelline glands of F. buski were seen to be clearly stained by the antibody. In addition, Ts2Ab also reacted with the cuticle and stichosome of the adult T. spiralis worm. In Western blot analysis, Ts2Ab recognized a 43-kDa antigen from T. spiralis muscle larvae extracts, while a previously studied antibody (7C2C5Ab) identified four major antigens (48.5, 47, 43, and 39 kDa) in this preparation. Similar results were obtained when the 24-hr excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of T. spiralis were immunoblotted with the antibodies, although the reactivity shown by Ts2Ab was relatively weak. With the 72-hr ES material, on the other hand, major antigens of lower mol wt (44, 28, and 25 kDa) were revealed by 7C2C5Ab, and no reactivity was seen with Ts2Ab. However, this antigen preparation reacted well with both antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Taken together, the findings suggest that the 72-hr ES antigens probably result from extensive degradation of material originally secreted or excreted by the worm. Similar binding studies on the 24-hr ES preparation indicated that this source may be relatively rich in 7C2C5Ab-reactive epitopes and relatively poor in the antigen identified by Ts2Ab. Other studies performed demonstrated that the antigens recognized by these two antibodies were distinct and physically unassociated.     

Identification of circulating antigens, including an immunoglobulin binding protein, from Toxoplasma gondii tissue cyst and tachyzoites in murine toxoplasmosis

Here we describe the identification of Toxoplasma gondii circulating antigens in sera of BALB/c mice experimentally infected with either the virulent RH strain, or the cystogenic WTD1 strain or with an isolate from a human patient. The circulating antigens were identified by immunoblot in tachyzoite (RH strain) and in tissue cyst (ME-49 strain) crude antigens, using antibodies produced by immunisation of BALB/c mice with homologous sera from infected animals. The most relevant tachyzoite antigen identified are in the following four clusters of 109-94, 67-57, 35-31 and 28-21 kDa. Tissue cyst-specific circulating antigens, like the 18 kDa one, were detected in sera from mice infected with the cystogenic strains. These immune sera, after depletion of tachyzoite specific antibodies, recognised three tissue cysts antigens with Mr of 120, 79 and 48 kDa, and a cluster of antigens in the range of 68-53 kDa. We produced monoclonal antibodies by fusion of myeloma cells with lymphocytes from the mouse immunised with circulating antigens from the RH strain. One of the clones (3A11/H12) obtained, secretes IgG(1) and recognises a peptide epitope from a tachyzoite 67 kDa protein. This parasite protein also binds irrelevant mouse IgG(1) as well as immunoglobulins from other species. The reactivity with non-specific antibodies was inhibited by preincubation with 2% normal mouse and goat serum, while the reaction with the monoclonal antibody 3A11/H12 was not. Furthermore, a biotinylated F(ab')(2) of an irrelevant mouse IgG(1) did not show any reactivity while the F(ab')(2) of the monoclonal antibody 3A11/H12 reacts specifically with the 67 kDa antigen suggesting that this circulating antigen is a putative Fc binding protein.     

血清学诊断中结核杆菌磷酸烯醇型丙酮酸羧激酶的应用

[目的]在原核系统中表达结核杆菌磷酸烯醇型丙酮酸羧激酶(phosphoenolpyruvate car-boxykinase PEPCK),并研究该蛋白在诊断结核病人血清抗体中的应用价值.[方法]应用基因重组技术表达重组蛋白结核杆菌磷酸烯醇型丙酮酸羧激酶,经亲和层析法纯化表达产物.用表达的重组蛋白免疫小鼠,研究其免疫学特性.间接酶联免疫吸附试验(Enzyme link immunosorbent assay,ELISA)检测结核病人血清中特异性IgG抗体,并与结核杆菌抗体胶体金法诊断试剂盒检测结果对比.[结果]试验表明转化入大肠杆菌中的重组质粒能够表达并纯化出相对分子量为72 kDa的重组蛋白;Western blot证实重组蛋白能够与小鼠抗BCG血清发生特异性反应;重组蛋白免疫小鼠后,小鼠血清中的抗体滴度可达1∶1280以上;重组蛋白用作ELISA包被抗原检测病人血清阳性率为17.3%(30/173),其中排菌病人的阳性率为32.5%(13/42),不排菌病人的阳性率为12.9%.该方法结果与结核杆菌抗体胶体金法诊断试剂盒的检测结果相比,敏感性为51.0%,特异性为96.7%.[结论]结核杆菌PEPCK具有较好的免疫原性和抗原性,有可能作为结核病血清学诊断的一组抗原之一.     

Expression and purification of recombinant antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis for application in serodiagnosis

Accurate diagnosis is essential for the treatment, prevention, and control of tuberculosis. Poor specificity of the tuberculin skin test in BCG-vaccinated populations and constraints to implementation of PCR and CMI-based diagnostic assays in developing countries warrant development of easy-to perform robust serological tests. Due to great heterogeneity in humoral response in TB patients, it will be necessary to include several antigens in any diagnostic assay to achieve useful levels of sensitivity and specificity. This needs production of recombinants, soluble versions of mycobacterial antigens in high yields. We have cloned, expressed, and purified a number of mycobacterial proteins in Escherichia coli. This paper describes the expression and purification of four promising sero-reactive proteins namely, ESAT6, CFP10, MTC28, and 14-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The protocol involves regulated and slow expression of proteins by using a T7 promoter-based expression vector for obtaining soluble protein followed by a three-step column chromatography procedure employing media with high binding capacity and flow characteristics. The yields of these proteins obtained were several folds higher than previously reported. The purified proteins were useful in detecting antibodies in sera of TB patients (smear positive, smear negative, and extra-pulmonary categories) and in combination with other immunodominant antigens will be useful in increasing the sensitivity to detect M. tuberculosis specific antibodies.     

Isolation of a 19-kDa mycobacterium,bovis-specific antigen,different from MPB70/80, by chromatofocusing

Two antigens, 19-kDa each, were purified from Mycobacterium bovis culture filtrate protein extract by chromatofocusing. Antigen I had a 4.5 pI, and its amino terminal (DPVDAVINTTCNYGQVVAALNATDP) showed a 100% homology with the hypothetical protein Rv1174c. Antigen II had a pI of 6.0 pI and its amino terminal (GDLVGPGCAEYAAANPTGPASVQGM) showed a 100% homology with M. bovis MPB70/80. Antigen I is a hetero-dimer formed by a glycosylated, 10.5-kDa, monomer and a non-glycosylated 8-kDa monomer with identical amino terminal sequences. Both antigens were recognized by the sera of PPD+ animals, but antigen I did not crossreact with sera of human PPD+ individuals. Antigen I was a weak inducer of lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma production. Our results show that M. bovis expresses a 19 kDa glycoprotein, homologue to the product of M. tuberculosis gen Rv1174c, which may prove useful for bovine TB diagnostic assays.     

Antigen recognition by serum antibodies in non-human primates experimentally infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a significant threat to non-human primates and their caretakers. The diagnosis of tuberculosis in living non-human primates is currently based on the tuberculin skin test, which is cumbersome and sometimes inaccurate. Development of an accurate serodiagnostic test requires identification of the key antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis involved in antibody production. When sequential serum samples obtained from 17 cynomolgus, rhesus, and African green monkeys up to seven months since experimental infection with M. tuberculosis Erdman were screened for antibody against purified proteins of M. tuberculosis, three highly seroreactive antigens were identified. One protein, ESAT-6, reacted with sera from all infected animals. Two additional proteins, alpha-crystallin and MTSA-10, were recognized by sera from approximately 90% of infected animals. Time course analysis of antibody production indicated that the earliest response was usually to ESAT-6 alone or to ESAT-6 and other antigen(s). These results provide experimental evidence of the potential value of ESAT-6 as an antigen for use in serodiagnosis of tuberculosis in non-human primates.     

Immunodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by concomitant detection of antigen and antibodies of excretory-secretory protein ofMycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra

With a view to diagnosing tuberculosis in populations in endemic areas, excretory-secretory antigen fraction(Mtb EST-6) of purifiedMycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Ra and affinity purified polyclonal antibodies againstMtb EST were used to detect both antibodies and circulating antigen in the sera of patients and disease-free individuals. Indirect stick penicillinase ELISA system usingMtb EST-6 detected antigen-specific IgG antibody in 84% of sputum positive, 77% of sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 7% of healthy and 11% of subjects with nontub~rculosis diseases. Similarly, a sandwich penicillinase ELISA system using affinity purified antiMtb EST antibodies detected circulating antigen in 83% and 61% of sputum positive and negative pulmonary tuberculosis subjects. In contrast only 24% of healthy and 18% of disease controls showed seropositivity. Antibody assay showed higher sensitivity and specificity (83% and 91% respectively) compared to antigen detection (sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 79%). However, by concomitant use of both assays it was possible to enhance the specificity of detection to 98%, though sensitivity was reduced marginally to 70%. The present study confirms the presence of both antigen and specific antibodies in the circulation during clinical disease and draws attention to the utility ofMtb EST-6 as a diagnostic marker of pulmonary tuberculosis.