Background:

Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a global public health emergency. No serological method is currently approved for the diagnosis of this infection.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to identify target antigens applicable to serological diagnostic methods for TB.

Materials and methods:

Sera of infected mice were analyzed by Western blot to detect M. tuberculosis antigens, during the acute and the progressive phases of the infection, and after antibiotic treatment. The 97 kDa antigen was then evaluated in the sera of 19 TB patients with positive baciloscopy and 12 healthy volunteers.

Results:

Mice infected with M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv had mycobacterial antigens in their sera from day 1 up to day 180 post-infection, including an antigen of 97 kDa. These circulating mycobacterial antigens decreased after treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide in mice infected with antibiotic-susceptible M. tuberculosis. A 97 kDa antigen was also present in the sera of mice infected with a virulent Mycobacterium bovis strain, but not in the sera of mice infected with an avirulent strain. The sera of TB patients contained higher concentrations of the 97 kDa antigen than the sera of healthy volunteers.

Conclusion:

The 97 kDa antigen that we identified in mouse models of mycobacterial infection and in TB patients could be a target for serological diagnostic methods for TB.

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