| Popis: |
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the main causes of death by M. tuberculosis infection in humans worldwide and, it is worrying that the number of cases have been increasing in recent years, largely due to HIV infection. Since the diagnostic methods for detecting the disease are not totally effective because of their lack of specificity and sensitivity, efforts are being made to characterize the M. tuberculosis antigens associated with protection and, thereby develop better diagnostic methods. Among the antigens which are secreted by M. tuberculosis--and which have been described as inducers of the secretion of mediators associated with protection--are CPF-10, ESAT-6, 27 kDa and 38 kDa, which induce the production of IFN-gamma; TNF-alpha and nitric oxide. By means of the study of the functions and composition of these antigens, which are mainly secreted by the bacteria, efforts are being made to find more effective methods of diagnosing the disease in its different stages of evolution. The present review aims to describe the antigens which have been reported as being relevant in the case of M. tuberculosis, since they participate in the immune response to infection and therefore, may be important in terms of diagnosis. |
