Identification of mycobacterial antigens for "ELISA" serology in the diagnosis of leprosy and tuberculosis.
Using an immunoblotting assay (ImBA), several immuno-crossreactive antigenic components (ImCRAC-myc) have been identified in the whole sonicates of M. bovis-BCG, and M. tuberculosis (Mtb) and M. leprae (ML) whereby the sera of 100% lepromatous leprosy (L-Lep) reacted to 29/33 KD doublet and that of 100% tuberculoid leprosy (T-Lep) reacted to 64 KD bands. The antigens upon purification from Mtb Sonicates were used in a direct ELISA to measure antibody isotypes in the sera from L-Lep, T-Lep, healthy Lep. contacts (Lep. c), normal Dutch controls (N) and tuberculosis (TB) patients. A significantly high IgG titre to the doublet 29/33 KD and to 64 KD were observed among L-Lep and T-Lep patients respectively in comparison to sera from other groups of individuals. In certain cases of L-Lep patients, raised IgM titre to either or both to 29/33 KD doublet and 64 KD were also found. On the other hand, consistantly but significant high IgA-antibody titre to cell wall (CW), cytosol (cyt) and P90 fractions of Mtb distinguished clearly the TB patients from Lep groups, normals (NN) and Lep-c. It appeared that such antibody reactivity of TB sera might be directed to the groups of 58-60, 38-40, 18-20 and 14 KD antigens of mycobacteria e.g. Mtb. On the basis of the present observations we conclude that the measurement of class specific antibody response to the panel of these antigens could diagnose differentially between Lep, TB and NN/Lep-c among the population at large in an endemic area.
Das
P K
PK
Department of Dermatology (Laboratory Neurozintuigen), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Rambukkana
A
A
Bass
J G
JG
Groothuis
D G
DG
Kok
A
A
Halperin
M
M
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial