Development of an Alternative Screening Method for Detecting Evidence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infections

The objective of this proposal is to develop an alternative to the tuberculin test and interferron-gamma release assays for the diagnosis of active and latent tuberculosis. Toward this end, a rapid test based on the detection of blood antibodies specific to Mycobacteria tuberculosis antigens will be devised for the serodiagnosis of active and latent TB. Selected and highly immunogenic antigens encoded in regions of difference in the genome of M. tuberculosis will be prepared. The recombinant antigens will be evaluated for possible usage in such a test by screening them with TB serum collections through ELISAs. The recombinant antigens subsequently will be used to create prototypes for further evaluation during Phase II and III.