| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a method for determining whether an individual has an active tuberculosis infection, a latent tuberculosis infection or is vaccinated against a tuberculosis infection or being healthy. The method comprises contacting a body fluid sample from an individual with an antibody having specificity for a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) protein mimicking a human protein and studying the interaction between the protein in the sample and the antibody. High levels of proteins interacting with the antibody are indicative of an active Mtb infection and low levels of proteins interacting with the antibody are indicative of a latent Mtb infection. No levels of proteins interacting with the antibody are indicative of a vaccinated or healthy individual. The present invention also relates to a method determining whether the individual has a tuberculosis infection and to a method for detecting the potency of a vaccination against tuberculosis by contacting a sample from the individual with an antibody having a specificity for the Mtb or the BCG vaccine respectively and studying the interaction between the sample and the specific antibody. |
