SEROLOGIC & T CELL RESPONSES TO ANTIGENS OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSI

曼图试验（PPD）是诊断结核分枝杆菌感染的金标准。虽然该测试既不敏感也不特异，但此前为更好的诊断测试所做的努力一直令人失望。在儿童中，区分无症状感染和结核分枝杆菌活动性疾病也具有挑战性。已经鉴定和制造了几种新的结核分枝杆菌抗原。我们将研究未感染、无症状感染或活动性结核分枝杆菌感染的儿童对这些抗原的抗体和t细胞反应。我们希望一种或多种新的抗原将有助于开发一种敏感和特异性的检测结核分枝杆菌感染或疾病的方法。

The Mantoux test (PPD) is the gold standard for diagnosis of infection with M. tuberculosis. While the test is neither sensitive nor specific, previous efforts at a better diagnostic test have been disappointing. In children, the distinction between asymptomatic infection and active disease with M. tuberculosis is also challenging. Several new antigens of M. tuberculosis have been identified and manufactured. We will study the antibody and T-cell responses to these antigens in children with no infection, asymptomatic infection or active disease with M. tuberculosis. We hope that one or more of the new antigens will be useful in developing a sensitive and specific assay for infection or disease with M. tuberculosis.