Identification of RD5-encoded Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins as B-cell antigens used for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.
Comparative genomic studies have identified several Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific genomic regions of difference (RDs) which are absent in the vaccine strains of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and which may be useful in the specific diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). In this study, all encoded proteins from DNA segment RD5 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that is, Rv3117-Rv3121, were recombined and evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for antibody reactivity with sera from HIV-negative pulmonary TB patients (n = 60) and healthy controls (n = 32). The results identified two immunodominant antigens, that is, Rv3117 and Rv3120, both of which revealed a statistically significant antigenic distinction between healthy controls and TB patients (P < 0.05). In comparison with the well-known early-secreted antigen target 6 kDa (ESAT-6) (sensitivity 21.7%, specificity 90.6%), the higher detection sensitivity and higher specificity were achieved (Rv3117: sensitivity 25%, specificity 96.9%; Rv3120: sensitivity 31.7%, specificity 96.9%). Thus, the results highlight the immunosensitive and immunospecific nature of Rv3117 and Rv3120 and indicate promise for their use in the serodiagnosis of TB.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
Miao-Miao
MM
Zhang
Jun-Wei
JW
Zhao
Zhan-Qiang
ZQ
Sun
Jun
J
Liu
Xiao-Kui
XK
Guo
Wen-Di
WD
Liu
Shu-Lin
SL
Zhang
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011994:Recombinant Proteins