Nonspecificity of 35 kDa protein: A proposed marker for the differential diagnosis of <i>M. avium</i> infection in the Indian population

<b>Objective:</b> The subunit vaccine strategies and development of various diagnostic reagents for <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> infection relies on the presence of secreted, species-specific mycobacterial antigens. The <i>M. avium</i> 35 kDa protein has been sugges...

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Main Authors: Gupta Kapil (Author), Mahajan Rajiv (Author), Khuller Gopal (Author), Verma Indu (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2010-10-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:<b>Objective:</b> The subunit vaccine strategies and development of various diagnostic reagents for <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> infection relies on the presence of secreted, species-specific mycobacterial antigens. The <i>M. avium</i> 35 kDa protein has been suggested as a candidate for vaccine/diagnostic reagent, specifically for <i>M. avium</i> infection. The present study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic specificity of the <i>M. avium</i> 35 kDa protein in the Indian population. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Culture filtrate proteins were isolated by growing the bacilli in modified Youman&#x2032;s medium. The 35 kDa protein was purified by high-resolution preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a blast search was carried out. Western blotting was performed with either monoclonal antibody CS-38 or serum samples of tuberculosis (TB) patients. The 35 kDa-specific immunoglobulin G antibody titer was estimated in the sera of TB patients and healthy individuals by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). <b>Results:</b> Despite the absence of gene for the 35 kDa protein, the sera of TB patients and TB patient&#x2032;s contacts nonspecifically recognize it. Of 109 TB patients tested, the sera of 84 patients in ELISA (percentage recognition = 87.5&#x0025;) and 27 of 29 TB patients tested in western immunoblotting (percentage recognition = 93.10&#x0025;) recognized the <i>M. avium</i> 35 kDa protein, while with sera of TB patient&#x2032;s contacts, the recognition was 50&#x0025;. <b>Conclusion:</b> Contrary to Western studies, the <i>M. avium</i> 35 kDa protein does not seem to be a good candidate for the specific diagnosis of <i>M. avium</i> infection in the Indian population.
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