In this study, the use of Mtp-40 and alpha antigen polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification fragments for the precise tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis was evaluated. One hundred and ninety two different samples were obtained from 113 patients with suspected TB. Mtp-40 and alpha antigen protein genes were amplified by the PCR technique and compared to both the "gold standard" (culture) test, as ...

Mice intraperitoneally (i.p.) infected with Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) respond to an i.p. challenge with mycobacterial antigen with an acute and extensive accumulation of neutrophils. This influx was not mimicked by the inoculation of recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The antigen-induced recruitment of neutrophils was not...

Complex antigens require processing within antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to form T cell stimulatory complexes with CD1 antigen-presenting molecules. It remains unknown whether lipids with multi-acylated moieties also necessitate digestion by lipases to become capable of binding CD1 molecules and stimulate T cells. Here, we show that the mycobacterial tetra-acylated glycolipid antigens phospha...

When exposed to a challenge of 10 Mycobacterium bovis BCG cells per antigen-presenting cell, most human monocytes engulf several organisms. In contrast, blood dendritic cells which are potent antigen-presenting cells for several antigens are not detectably phagocytic for mycobacteria. We investigated the possibility that infected macrophages might regurgitate antigens for presentation by popula...

background: mycobacterium marinum infection has a worldwide distribution and the organism occupies many aquatic environments. infections in human consist of nodular cutaneous lesions that can progress to tenosynovitis, arthritis, and osteomyelitis. case presentation: a 27-year-old man was presented with a history of swelling and exudative erythematous lesions and pustules of the right forearm. ...

BACKGROUND Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has an autoimmune aetiology, although little is known regarding the mechanisms of breakdown of self tolerance. One postulated mechanism of control of self tolerance is through interacting T cell subsets, a phenomenon explored in this study. AIMS To characterise and compare T cell subset responses to an antigen (tuberculin purified protein derivative ...

The identification and the establishing of relationships among the various antigens associated with the mycobacteria have been the subject of innumerable investigations. The classical serologic technqiues of complement-fixation, agglutination, and precipitation have been employed in this endeavor by many investigators. Information has also been provided by sensitizing both normal and tanned ery...

Adherence to mammalian host tissues is an important virulence trait in microbial pathogenesis, yet little is known about the adherence mechanisms of mycobacteria. Here, we show that binding of mycobacteria to epithelial cells but not to macrophages can be specifically inhibited by sulfated carbohydrates. Using heparin-Sepharose chromatography, a 28-kD heparin-binding protein was purified from c...

The significant role played by mycobacteria in modulating immune responses through enhancing the crosstalk between innate and adaptive immunity has been highlighted in several studies. Owing to their unique antigenic profile, heat killed (HK) preparations of rapid-growing mycobacteria, currently undergoing clinical development, have been assessed as adjuvant therapy in various diseases. The pur...

Nontuberculow mycobact& such as Mycobacterium kansasii and M. avium intracellular-e currently pose signzj?cant problems for human hea&th. The epidemiologic mechanisms involved in their transmission are uncertain, but recent evidence suggests swine could be involved. The work presented here sought to isolate nontuberculous mycobacteria j?om apparently normal swine bmph no&s in Uruguay, to iofent...