Abstract
Diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is considered essential for tuberculosis control but is hampered by the lack of specific reagents. We report that strong recognition of tuberculosis complex-specific antigen ESAT-6 by healthy household contacts of tuberculosis patients correlates with the subsequent development of active tuberculosis during a 2-year follow-up period.
MeSH terms
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
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Bacterial Proteins
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Contact Tracing
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Disease Progression
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Family Characteristics*
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Humans
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Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / physiopathology
Substances
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Bacterial Proteins
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ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
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Interferon-gamma