title: Immunological biomarkers of tuberculosis.
abstract: Currently there are no sufficiently validated biomarkers to aid the evaluation of new tuberculosis vaccine candidates, the improvement of tuberculosis diagnostics or the development of more effective and shorter treatment regimens. To date, the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or its products has not been able to adequately address these needs. Understanding the interplay between the host immune system and M. tuberculosis may provide a platform for the identification of suitable biomarkers, through both unbiased and targeted hypothesis-driven approaches. Here, we review immunological markers, their relation to M. tuberculosis infection stages and their potential use in the fight against tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Group, NRF/DST Centre of Excellence for TB Biomedical Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. gwalzl@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walzl
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ronacher
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hanekom
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Scriba
authors.forename: Alimuddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zumla
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines