Immune responses to mycobacterial antigens in the Gambian population: implications for vaccines and immunodiagnostic test design.
Vekemans, Johan;
Ota, Martin OC;
Sillah, Jackson;
Fielding, Katherine;
Alderson, Mark R;
Skeiky, Yasir AW;
Dalemans, Wilfried;
McAdam, Keith PWJ;
Lienhardt, Christian;
Marchant, Arnaud;
(2004)
Immune responses to mycobacterial antigens in the Gambian population: implications for vaccines and immunodiagnostic test design.
Infection and immunity, 72 (1).
pp. 381-388.
ISSN 0019-9567
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.72.1.381-388.2004
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Recombinant immunodominant mycobacterial antigens are needed for the development of new vaccines and immunodiagnostic tools for use against tuberculosis. Ubiquitous exposure to mycobacteria in tropical countries could influence vaccine-induced immunity and the specificity of tuberculosis immunodiagnosis. For this study conducted in The Gambia, cellular immune responses to recombinant mycobacterial antigens were characterized in Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated and nonvaccinated infants, adult community controls, household contacts, health care workers, and tuberculosis patients. Neonatal BCG vaccination induced gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) responses to Mtb8.4, Mtb32-C, Mtb39A, Mtb9.9A, and Mtb32-N, but not CFP-10 (Mtb11) and alpha-crystallin (Mtb16). Exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in household contacts and health care workers was associated with high responses to CFP-10 and alpha-crystallin. Generally, low IFN-gamma responses were found in tuberculosis patients. These results suggest that Mtb8.4, Mtb32-C, Mtb39A, Mtb9.9A, and Mtb32-N may be used in a subunit vaccine to boost BCG-induced immunity. While CFP-10 and alpha-crystallin are promising candidates for the immunodiagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection or for vaccine use, disease-associated immunosuppression may prevent IFN-gamma immunodiagnosis of more advanced tuberculosis.