Characterization of a tuberculosis patient's sera reactive Mycobacterium tuberculosis transcription factor Rv2175c.

The transcriptional factor plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression and crucial to understand the biology of organisms. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, harbors multiple transcriptional factors. Few transcriptional factors are well-documented antigens. Based on the screening of antigen with TB patients sera, a functional unknown ORF (Rv2175c) annotated as transcriptional factor was heterologously expressed, purified and for serodiagnostic value. E.coli recombinant Rv2175c protein was produced and antibodies were generated in rabbit using the recombinant antigens. ELISA and novel electrochemical immunosensor were employed in a parallel fashion in order to define its serodiagnositic value. Electrochemical immunosensor showed a sharp difference between health and TB sera. The data showed that Rv2715c is antigenic and can be used for TB seradignosis candidate in non BCG vaccinated areas.