title: Methods for the detection of a specific Mycobacterium leprae antigen in the urine of leprosy patients.
abstract: Two methods for detecting the phenolic glycolipid, PGL-1, a Mycobacterium leprae-specific molecule, in the urine of leprosy patients are described. Both methods rely on the 100-fold preconcentration of the urine, which can be accomplished by a single-step ultrafiltration procedure. The equivalent of approximately 2.5 micrograms of PGL-1/ml was detected in the urine of LL patients with an inhibition ELISA. The second method, a direct dot-blot assay on nitrocellulose paper, was much simpler and more sensitive. As little as 3 ng of antigen was detected by the dot-blot technique. PGL-1 was detected in the urine of LL patients.
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000652:urine*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae