Health

Peptide-specific T cell response examined

Article Abstract:

Several factors may be behind the diminished responsiveness of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in tuberculosis patients. A report from Sweden identified some of these factors as sequestration of cells at the site of the disease and a shift in cytokine production by PBMC, especially of IL-10. A study conducted by Robert John Wilkinson and colleagues examined peptide-specific T cell response to distinct Mycobacterium tuberculosis by comparing the T cell responses of healthy BCG vaccine recipients with those of patients with a wide range of untreated postprimary disease.

Novel proteins could lead to improved vaccine

Article Abstract:

A more effective tuberculosis vaccine may soon be developed with the recent purification and characterization of six novel proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate. This was gleaned from the results of a study conducted by Karin Weldingh and colleagues at the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark. Results indicate that extracellular antigens may be the primary targets identified in the first phase of M. tuberculosis infection, which has significant implications in the early control and prevention of the disease.

MTB12 antigen may be candidate vaccine

Article Abstract:

A report from the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle, WA, has identified the low-molecular-weight antigen MTB12 as a potential subunit vaccine component against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. John R. Webb and colleagues said the MTB12 protein comprises a major component of the M. tuberculosis culture supernatant and seems to equal many other culture filtrate proteins (CFP) in abundance. CFP prepared in various forms have been found to provide protection when employed as vaccines in animal models of tuberculosis.