A LIPOSOMAL COMPOSITION COMPRISING A STEROL MODIFIED LIPID AND A PURIFIED MYCOBACTERIAL LIPID CELL WALL COMPONENT AND IT S USE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS

摘要

A liposomal composition comprising a sterol modified lipid and a purified mycobacterial lipid cell wall component or analog or derivative thereof is described. The composition is useful as a lipid antigen presenting vehicle for the detection of lipid antigen specific biomarker antibodies in antibody containing biological samples in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. The purified lipid cell wall component is typically a purified mycolic acid or a mixture of mycolic acids from a mycobacterium that produces mycolic acids. The sterol modified lipid is typically a phospholipid.