The Role of Phosphatidylinositol Mannosides in the Serological Diagnosis of Mycobacterial Infections.

ABSTRACT: Accurate diagnosis of mycobacterial infections, such as bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis, remains challenging. Available direct diagnostic tests aimed at detecting the pathogen are highly specific but lack sensitivity, depending on the stage of infection and the prevalence of infection in a population. The sensitivity of indirect diagnostic assays that measure the host immune response to infection is similarly affected by disease characteristics. The choice of antigen used to detect a host response to infection has a critical impact on test sensitivity and specificity. Many indirect tests rely on crude antigen preparations and cell-free extracts, of which the production is poorly standardized. Moreover, these preparations contain ample uncharacterized cross-reactive compounds. To e

SUBMITTER: Koets AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6958488 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature