title: Antigenic evidence of prevalence and diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis arabinomannan.
abstract: Arabinomannan (AM) is a polysaccharide of the mycobacterial capsule. The capsular polysaccharides of various microorganisms are diverse, and this diversity is important for classification of organisms into serotypes and vaccine development. In the present study we examined the prevalence and diversity of AM among Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains using four AM-binding monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). One of these MAbs, MAb 9d8, is known to bind to AM specifically. By whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the AM recognized by MAb 9d8 was detected on the surfaces of 9 of 11 strains, while 2 strains showed no reactivity with MAb 9d8. However, the AM recognized by MAb 9d8 was found in the culture supernatants of all 11 M. tuberculosis strains tested, as demonstrated by capture ELISA. Other AM-binding MAbs reacted both with the surfaces and with the culture supernatants of all 11 strains. Mice immunized with an experimental AM-recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoprotein A (rEPA) conjugate vaccine had an increased antibody response to AM and a moderate reduction in the numbers of CFU in their organs 7 days after challenge. Our results indicate that AM was detected in all M. tuberculosis strains tested, with differences in epitope distributions of certain strains. In addition, our results suggest that an experimental AM-rEPA vaccine has a moderate effect on the numbers of CFU in organs early after infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Golding Bldg., Room 702, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA. afreedma@aecom.yu.edu
authors.forename: Aharona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glatman-Freedman
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casadevall
authors.forename: Zongdong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Anping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sheldon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Josepine Anne D
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navoa
authors.forename: Sajida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piperdi
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneerson
authors.forename: J Reid
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schwebach
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008351:Mannans / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000276:immunology; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
chemical_list: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000939:Epitopes; D005098:Exotoxins; D008351:Mannans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000097668:Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A; C012189:arabinomannan