Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by enumeration of antigen-specific T cells.

Journal article

There is no reliable means of detecting latent M. tuberculosis infection, and even in patients with active tuberculosis, infection is often unconfirmed. We hypothesized that M. tuberculosis antigen-specific T cells might reliably indicate infection. We enumerated peripheral blood-derived interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-secreting T cells responding to epitopes from ESAT-6, an antigen that is highly specific for M. tuberculosis complex but absent from BCG, in four groups of individuals. Forty-five...

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Authors: Lalvani, A; Pathan, A; Mcshane, H; Wilkinson, R; Latif, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
• Volume: 163
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 824-828
• Publication date: 2001-03-01
• DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.163.4.2009100
• EISSN: 1535-4970
• ISSN: 1073-449X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculin Test; Prospective Studies; Male; Tuberculosis; Humans; Aged; Adolescent; Reference Values; Sensitivity and Specificity; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Adult; Antigens, Bacterial; Female; Antigens, CD4; Middle Aged; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay