1. Human T cell responses to peptides of the Mycobacterium leprae 45-kD serine-rich antigen.
- Author
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BRAHMBHATT, S, HUSSAIN, R, ZAFAR, S, DAWOOD, G, OTTENHOFF, T. H. M, DRIJFHOUT, J. W, BOTHAMLEY, G, SMITH, S, LOPEZ, F. V, and DOCKRELL, H. M
- Subjects
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T cells , *EPITOPES , *MYCOBACTERIUM leprae - Abstract
SUMMARY In order to identify T cell epitopes within the Mycobacterium leprae 45-kD serine-rich antigen, we analysed responses to overlapping 17-mer peptides encompassing the whole antigen in non-exposed UK controls, Pakistani leprosy patients and tuberculosis patients in both the United Kingdom and Pakistan. This antigen has been described as M. leprae -specific, although it has a hypothetical homologue in M. tuberculosis . Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with peptide for 5 days and IFN-γ measured in supernatants by ELISA. Some peptides were recognized more frequently by T cells from tuberculoid leprosy patients than those from UK controls, suggesting that such T cell epitopes might have diagnostic potential, while other peptides induced greater responses among UK control subjects. Short-term cell lines confirmed that these assays detected specific T cell recognition of these peptides. However, many tuberculosis patients also recognized these potentially specific peptides suggesting that there could be a true homologue present in M. tuberculosis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2002
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