Tuberculosis diagnostic test
View Patent ↗A method of diagnosing in a host infection by or exposure to a mycobacterium which expresses ESAT-6 comprising (i) contacting a population of T cells from the host with one or more peptides or analogues selected from the peptides represented by SEQ ID NO:1 to 11 and analogues thereof which can bind a T cell receptor which recognises any of the said peptides, and (ii) determining whether the T cells of said T cell population recognise the peptide(s) and/or analogue(s). The method may performed in vivo. Peptides and a kit which enable the method to be carried out are provided.
1. A method of diagnosing infection in a human host by, or exposure of a human host to, a mycobacterium which expresses ESAT-6, which method comprises the steps of:
(i) contacting a population of T cells from the host with the peptide represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; and
(ii) determining in vitro whether the T cells of said T cell population show a recognition response to said peptide.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with one or more peptides selected from the group consisting of: a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:2, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:3, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:4, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:5, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:6, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:7, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:8, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:9, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:10, and a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:11.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:2.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:3.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:4.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:5.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:6.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:7.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:8.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:9.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:10.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting said population of T cells with a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:11.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the T cells are freshly isolated.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the T cells are isolated from blood.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the T cell population comprises CD4 and CD8 T cells.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the host is a healthy human host who has been exposed to the mycobacterium.
17. A kit for diagnosing infection in a human host by, or exposure of a human host to, a mycobacterium that expresses ESAT-6, comprising a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.
18. The kit of claim 17 , further comprising an apparatus to detect recognition of the peptide by a T cell population.
19. The kit of claim 17 , wherein the kit further comprises one or more peptides selected from the group consisting of: a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:2, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:3, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:4, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:5, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:6, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:7, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:8, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:9, a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:10, and a peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:11.