Exploring the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis for a better diagnosis of the infection |
| |
| Authors: | Giovanni Ferrara Ph.D. Monica Losi Leonardo M. Fabbri Giovanni B. Migliori Luca Richeldi Lucio Casali |
| |
| Affiliation: | (1) TB Infection Screening Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples “FEDERICO II”, Monaldi Hospital, Via L. Bianchi, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;(2) Microbiology and Virology Service, Monaldi Hospital, Via L. Bianchi, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;(3) Division of Dermatology, Department of Systematic Pathology, University of Naples “FEDERICO II”, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;(4) Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples “FEDERICO II”, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;(5) Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples “FEDERICO II”, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;(6) Statistics Unit, Department of Medicine and Public Health, Second University of Naples, Via L. Armanni, 5, 80138 Naples, Italy |
| |
| Abstract: | Tuberculosis (TB) still represents a monumental problem, with more than two million deaths every year worldwide. The current diagnostics for TB offer sub-optimal accuracy both for the active and the latent form of infection and are often based on technologies unaffordable in low-income settings. The tuberculin skin test was the first diagnostic based on an acquired immune response towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Advances in molecular and cellular biology and the elucidation of the mechanisms governing the relation between MTB and the human immune system form the basis for new and more accurate assays, potentially able to fill the gaps and limits of classical diagnostics. However, the process of validating new tests is still complex and hampered by specific questions regarding TB immunology and natural history. We present here a summary of the current approaches to validate new diagnostics based on the detection of immunological biomarkers of TB infection. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
