Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosisSpecific esat6-Like Genes and the Diagnostic Relevance of Encoded Proteins

摘要

The analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome hasrevealed the presence of 23 ESAT6-like genes. The aim of this studywas to determine the occurrence and specificity of all ESAT6-likegenes in various mycobacterial species and evaluate the encodedproteins for serological reactivity. The results showed that ESAT6-like genes were specific for M. tuberculosis complex. Serologicalreactivity with tuberculosis patientssera identified two majorantigens (ESXF and ESXQ) and three immunodominant peptides(peptide 4 of ESXQ and peptides 4 and 5 of ESXF). However, thesame peptides were also immunodominant in healthy subjects as well.In conclusion, only the detection of DNA but not antibodies againstESAT6-like proteins could be of diagnostic relevance.