title: Evaluation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific RD antigens for delayed type hypersensitivity responses in guinea pig.
abstract: Tuberculin skin test (TST), an age old method is based on measuring delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to purified protein derivative (PPD). However, inspite of simplicity, ease and cost effectiveness, the usefulness of PPD test is limited due to its inability to distinguish among a protective immune response, latent infection and active tuberculosis disease. On the other hand, a skin test based on RD antigens would add advantages of a high specificity of antigens with the logistics of a skin test. However, except few reports, in vivo data of intradermal use of RD antigens for skin testing is limited. Therefore, in the present study, four M. tuberculosis (Mtb) specific antigens (ESAT6, CFP10, CFP21 and MPT64) were evaluated for their diagnostic utility based on DTH response. These antigens alone and their multiple combinations induced strong DTH response in Mtb infected guinea pigs and the response was negligible in BCG vaccinated and sham immunized animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Gopal Krishen
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Khuller
authors.forename: Javaid Ahmad
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Indu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens