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Characterization of the immune response to an epitope on Mycobacterium leprae antigen 7 defined by a monoclonal antibody.

Abstract

A mouse monoclonal antibody (038D-C6) was shown by crossed immunoelectrophoresis and radioimmunoassay to react with an epitope on the Mycobacterium leprae antigen 7. This epitope was highly crossreactive with BCG/M. tuberculosis and of a non-arabinogalactan-arabinomannan nature. A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) was applied, based on competitive inhibition by human sera of antigen binding by this anti-M. leprae monoclonal antibody. Inhibitory activity determined by this assay decreased markedly upon treatment in both lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy patients. A correlation was found between the bacterial load of the patient and the inhibitory activity measured in the SPRIA assay. Serum-inhibitory activity could therefore perhaps be used as a follow-up test for patients on treatment or as a screening method to detect infective cases. A dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based, like the SPRIA assay, on competitive inhibition by human sera, was explored as an inexpensive and technically simple alternative also applicable under field conditions.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Reitan L J
Closs O
Harboe M

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