title: Immune responses to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigen ESAT-6 signal subclinical infection among contacts of tuberculosis patients.
abstract: Diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is considered essential for tuberculosis control but is hampered by the lack of specific reagents. We report that strong recognition of tuberculosis complex-specific antigen ESAT-6 by healthy household contacts of tuberculosis patients correlates with the subsequent development of active tuberculosis during a 2-year follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tuberculosis Immunology, Statens Serum Institute. Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. TMD@ssi.dk
authors.forename: T Mark
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Abebech
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demissie
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olobo
authors.forename: Dawit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolday
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Britton
authors.forename: Tewodros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eguale
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravn
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016358:Contact Tracing; D018450:Disease Progression; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C093276:ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D007371:Interferon-gamma