Abstract
BackgroundThe role of the surface capsular polysaccharides (CPs) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the pathogenesis of infection and disease, as well their potential for use as diagnostic reagents and vaccine antigens, are unknown.MethodsSerum antibody to two CPs of Mtb, arabinomannan (AM) and glucan (Glu), were studied in samples from 52 18–74 year-old HIV-seronegative, immunocompetent individuals in Houston Texas. The effects of Mtb exposure, infection and disease upon the levels of antibodies to these CPs were assessed. Subjects were grouped according to the standard international classification.ResultsIgA anti-Glu levels were significantly higher in the active and treated TB compared to a group that was PPD-negative without TB exposure history (p<0.05). Antibodies against AM demonstrated a similar pattern, with the exception that IgG anti-AM was higher in groups who had active TB or previously documented active TB, and IgA anti-AM was higher in subjects with previously documented active TB compared to the level in an unexposed, PPD-negative group (p<0.05). Serum IgG anti-Glu levels were higher in subjects with active TB or previously documented active TB than in the unexposed PPD-negative group, but the differences were not significant.ConclusionsThese data suggest that the evaluation of antibody responses to the CP of Mtb may have utility for TB serodiagnosis, and that vaccines designed to induce humoral responses to TB CPs should be tested for their capacity to evoke anti-tuberculosis protective immunity.
Highlights
The role of the surface capsular polysaccharides (CPs) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the pathogenesis of infection and disease, as well their potential for use as diagnostic reagents and vaccine antigens, are unknown
Because the CPs of these bacteria are used for diagnosis and prevention of diseases caused by these pathogens, we evaluated the Mtb CPs as potential diagnostic reagents or vaccines for TB
This pilot study assessed antibody responses to the two CPs of Mtb among immunocompetent subjects who were stratified according to their history of infection with and/or disease caused by Mtb
Summary
The role of the surface capsular polysaccharides (CPs) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the pathogenesis of infection and disease, as well their potential for use as diagnostic reagents and vaccine antigens, are unknown. Mtb is an encapsulated organism and its capsule is composed of lipid derivatives of arabinomann (AM) and glucan (Glu) [3-6] The role of these CPs in pathogenesis of and immunity to Mtb is unknown; CPs of other important bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Salmonella typhi have been shown to inhibit complement-mediated and phagocytic actions, thereby preventing initial control of infection [7,8]. Antibody to these CPs promote clearance of the organisms. This pilot study assessed antibody responses to the two CPs of Mtb among immunocompetent subjects who were stratified according to their history of infection with and/or disease caused by Mtb
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