Highly immunoreactive antibodies against the rHup-F2 fragment (aa 63-161) of the iron-regulated HupB protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its potential for the serodiagnosis of extrapulmonary and recurrent tuberculosis

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2015 Jan;34(1):33-40. doi: 10.1007/s10096-014-2203-y. Epub 2014 Jul 19.

Abstract

HupB is an iron-regulated protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that functions as a positive regulator of mycobactin biosynthesis. It is essential for the growth and survival of the pathogen inside macrophages. Previously, using the full-length rHupB of M. tuberculosis, we demonstrated high levels of anti-HupB antibodies in the serum of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and, interestingly, extrapulmonary TB patients with negligible levels in household contacts and healthy controls. Here, we used three antigenic fragments of HupB, namely the recombinant HupB-F1 (aa 1-71), HupB-F2 (aa 63-161) and HupB-F3 (aa 164-214), as antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to screen serum from TB patients. HupB-F2 showed enhanced immunoreactivity with serum from patients with pulmonary TB (three groups consisting of new cases, defaulters and recurrent cases) and extrapulmonary TB, with negligible levels in normal healthy controls. The negative correlation of the anti-(HupB-F2) antibodies with serum iron was maximal, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient value of -0.415. The study, in addition to strengthening the diagnostic potential of HupB, reflected the superior performance of HupB-F2 as an antigen in screening pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antigens, Bacterial*
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Histones*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Serologic Tests / methods
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Histones
  • HupB protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Recombinant Proteins