02386nas a2200421   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653000900080653002200089653002600111653002700137653002400164653002300188653001000211653001300221653001100234653001100245653002100256653002100277653001200298653000900310653001600319653002500335653002500360653002800385100001400413700001800427700001500445700001600460245010700476856004100583300001000624490000700634520130900641022001401950       1992                            d  c1992 Jun10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aAntibodies, Bacterial10aAntibodies, Monoclonal10aAntigens, Bacterial10aBacterial Proteins10aChild10aEpitopes10aFemale10aHumans10aImmunoglobulin G10aImmunoglobulin M10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aRecombinant Proteins10aTuberculosis, Pulmonary1 aRoche P W1 aPrestidge R L1 aWatson J D1 aBritton W J00aAntibody responses to the 18-kDa protein of Mycobacterium leprae in leprosy and tuberculosis patients.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v60n2a06.pdf  a201-70 v603 a<p>The 18-kDa protein of Mycobacterium leprae, as recognized by the monoclonal antibody L5, has a restricted species distribution, being confined to M. leprae and M. habana. We have developed a solid-phase ELISA using purified, recombinant M. leprae 18-kDa protein and compared the serological responses of Nepali leprosy and tuberculosis patients and endemic control subjects to the protein and the M. leprae phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I). Few control subjects had anti-18-kDa antibodies. A small proportion of paucibacillary (PB) leprosy and 42% of multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients had IgG anti-M. leprae antibodies. A similar proportion (47%) of Nepali tuberculosis (TB) patients were seropositive, and IgG anti-18-kDa antibody levels were significantly higher in MB and TB patients than in control subjects. By comparison, IgM anti-PGL-I antibodies were detected in 88% of MB leprosy patients and only 7% of TB patients. The possible reasons for the 18-kDa protein seroreactivity in TB patients are discussed, and the anti-18-kDa assay is compared with other antibody assays for protein and nonprotein antigens of M. leprae. It is concluded that the sensitivity and specificity of the anti-M. leprae 18-kDa ELISA are insufficient for the assay to be of clinical utility in leprosy patients.</p>
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