Antibodies to mycobacterium tuberculosis mycolic acids in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis
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Date
2001-09-11
Authors
Schleicher., Gunter, Klaus.
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Abstract
Introduction and Aim: The waxy outer cell wall of mycobacteria consists mainly of mycolic acids (MA). The unique immuno-stimulatory properties of MA via the CD 1-restricted antigen presentation pathway have been demonstrated in humans. Purification and isolation of M.tuberculosis (MTB) MA has allowed them to be applied as an antigen in an ELISA-based sero-diagnostic assay to detect specific antibodies in the sera of humans. The aim of the study was to measure the levels of antibody to MA in the sera of patients with culture proven pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and in control subjects without evidence of tuberculosis.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine)
Johannesburg 2001