title: Cell mediated responses to the mycobacterium tuberculosis specific ESAT-6 antigen in Egyptian tuberculosis patients.
abstract: Human T cell responses and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to M. tuberculosis Early Secretory Antigen Target-6 (ESAT-6) eight synthetic overlapping peptides, were investigated in Egyptian tuberculosis patients as well as a control group. Three cell mediated immunoassays (lymphoproliferative, ELISPOT and intracellular flowcytometry) have been employed in this study to determine the ability of ESAT-6 to induce T-cell responses and IFN-gamma secretion, which play a critical role in protective cell-mediated immunity against tuberculosis (TB). The results revealed that all ESAT-6 peptides (P1-P8) were recognized by 85% of infected TB-patients, indicating that the molecule holds multiple epitopes. However, patients differed in the fine specificity of their peptide responses. Recognition of the N-terminal region of (P2-P7) was predominant. This study demonstrates that ESAT-6 is frequently recognized during infection and holds potential as a component of a future TB-vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Egyptian Organization for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA Holding Company), Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abd El-Maged
authors.forename: Sahar A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shoman
authors.forename: Maged M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Sherbieny
authors.forename: Ahmed B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Barakat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007118:Immunoassay; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C093276:ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D007371:Interferon-gamma