Serological responses of patients with lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy to 30-, 31-, and 32-kilodalton antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Sera from patients with lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy were examined in immunoblot assays for antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens. Antibodies to 30- and 31-kilodalton proteins were present in 88 and 81%, respectively, of 16 patients with lepromatous disease and absent in 16 patients with tuberculoid disease. Antibodies to a 32-kilodalton protein were found in 12 and 38% of lepromatous and tuberculoid patients, respectively. These reactivities may be useful for distinguishing lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000276:immunology*; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000276:immunology*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial