GLYCOLIPIDS FOR SERODIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LEPROSY

摘要

A method of testing for tuberculosis and leprosy in animals, or humans and antigens used in the method. The method involves carrying out an assay on sera from said humans or animals using an antigen to bind antibodies in said sera. The antigens used in the method are synthetic pseudo cord factorlike glycolipids having the structures (I) or (II) below: (I) (II) wherein R represents a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 15 to 18 carbon atoms. The antigens can be produced by chemical synthesis, and can therefore be made available in suitable quantities, and are relatively stable at ambient temperatures while showing good sensitivity and specificity for tuberculosis and leprosy. The antigens can be used, for example, for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and related "spot tests", for diagnosing tuberculosis and leprosy.