A molecular assay for sensitive detection of pathogen-specific T-cells

Victoria O. Kasprowicz, Jessica E. Mitchell, Shivan Chetty, Pamla Govender, Kuan Hsiang Gary Huang, Helen A. Fletcher, Daniel P. Webster, Sebastian Brown, Anne Kasmar, Kerry Millington, Cheryl L. Day, Nompumelelo Mkhwanazi, Cheryl McClurg, Fundisiwe Chonco, Ajit Lalvani, Bruce D. Walker, Thumbi Ndung'u, Paul Klenerman

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27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Here we describe the development and validation of a highly sensitive assay of antigen-specific IFN-γ production using real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for two reporters - monokine-induced by IFN-γ (MIG) and the IFN-γ inducible protein-10 (IP10). We developed and validated the assay and applied it to the detection of CMV, HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific responses, in a cohort of HIV co-infected patients. We compared the sensitivity of this assay to that of the ex vivo RD1 (ESAT-6 and CFP-10)-specific IFN-γ Elispot assay. We observed a clear quantitative correlation between the two assays (P<0.001). Our assay proved to be a sensitive assay for the detection of MTB-specific T cells, could be performed on whole blood samples of fingerprick (50 uL) volumes, and was not affected by HIV-mediated immunosuppression. This assay platform is potentially of utility in diagnosis of infection in this and other clinical settings.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere20606
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume6
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

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