Open AccessSelected Pool of Peptides from ESAT-6 and CFP-10 Proteins for Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Author(s) -
Paolo Scarpellini,
Silvana Tasca,
Laura Galli,
Alberto Beretta,
Adriano Lazzarin,
Claudio Fortis
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.42.8.3469-3474.2004
Subject(s) - esat 6 , mycobacterium tuberculosis , tuberculosis , virology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , medicine , pathology
We have validated a new test for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. A pool of synthetic peptides derived from ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins was used to detect the number of specific gamma interferon-producing T cells by means of an enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Sixty-eight individuals positive for M. tuberculosis infection, either human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive or -seronegative, were studied. The test results were highly specific (87.5%) and sensitive (93.1%), more so than a classical lymphoproliferative assay (specificity and sensitivity of 77.27%), opening new possibilities for diagnosis and screening of tuberculosis. Moreover, the test allowed us to distinguish individuals infected with M. tuberculosis from those vaccinated with BCG.