title: Interferon-gamma and skin test responses of schoolchildren in southeast England to purified protein derivatives from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other species of mycobacteria.
abstract: The immune responses of schoolchildren in southeast England to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other species of mycobacteria were studied prior to vaccination with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Data are presented for tuberculin (Heaf) skin test and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) responses to M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD), and IFN-gamma responses to PPDs from eight other environmental mycobacteria, measured in 424 schoolchildren (13-15 years of age). Responses to M. tuberculosis PPD were detected in 27% of schoolchildren by in vitro IFN-gamma response and in 20% by the Heaf test. IFN-gamma responses were more prevalent to PPDs from species of mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis, predominantly those of the MAIS complex and M. marinum (45-60% responders). Heaf test and IFN-gamma responses were associated (P<0.001) for M. tuberculosis, MAIS and M. marinum. These findings have implications for appropriate implementation of vaccination against tuberculosis.
authors: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. rosemary.weir@lshtm.ac.uk
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Weir
authors: P E M
authors: PE
authors: Fine
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Nazareth
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Floyd
authors: G F
authors: GF
authors: Black
authors: E
authors: E
authors: King
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Stanley
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bliss
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Branson
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Dockrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000276:immunology; D019910:Mycobacterium marinum / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology*; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D014373:Tuberculin; D007371:Interferon-gamma