1. Cloning of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene encoding a purifed protein derivative protein that elicits strong tuberculosis-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity.
- Author
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Coler RN, Skeiky YA, Ovendale PJ, Vedvick TS, Gervassi L, Guderian J, Jen S, Reed SG, and Campos-Neto A
- Subjects
- Animals, Antigens, Bacterial immunology, Bacterial Proteins immunology, Cloning, Molecular, Disease Models, Animal, Guinea Pigs, Immunoblotting, Leukocytes, Mononuclear drug effects, Leukocytes, Mononuclear physiology, Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunology, Recombinant Proteins immunology, Recombinant Proteins pharmacology, Tuberculin pharmacology, Tuberculin Test methods, Tuberculosis metabolism, Tuberculosis physiopathology, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 drug effects, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 physiology, Antigens, Bacterial genetics, Bacterial Proteins genetics, Hypersensitivity, Delayed, Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetics
- Abstract
The purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test has been used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis for more than 75 years. However, the test lacks specificity because all mycobacteria share antigens present in PPD. Therefore, sensitization with nontuberculous pathogenic or with environmental nonpathogenic mycobacteria can lead to positive skin tests. This communication describes a novel PPD protein present only in tuberculous complex mycobacteria. A recombinant protein was obtained and named DPPD on the basis of the first 4 amino acids of its N-terminus sequence. DPPD elicited delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in 100% of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected guinea pigs but in no animals sensitized with several organisms representative of all members of the Mycobacterium genus. Preliminary results indicate that DPPD induces strong and specific DTH in humans. This work points to the definition of a single recombinant M. tuberculosis protein that may be an alternative to the PPD test.
- Published
- 2000
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