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. 2003 Nov;134(2):285-94.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02272.

Interferon-gamma and skin test responses of schoolchildren in southeast England to purified protein derivatives from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other species of mycobacteria

R E Weir  1 , P E M Fine, B Nazareth, S Floyd, G F Black, E King, C Stanley, L Bliss, K Branson, H M Dockrell
Affiliations

Interferon-gamma and skin test responses of schoolchildren in southeast England to purified protein derivatives from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other species of mycobacteria

R E Weir et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2003 Nov.

Abstract

The immune responses of schoolchildren in southeast England to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other species of mycobacteria were studied prior to vaccination with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Data are presented for tuberculin (Heaf) skin test and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) responses to M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD), and IFN-gamma responses to PPDs from eight other environmental mycobacteria, measured in 424 schoolchildren (13-15 years of age). Responses to M. tuberculosis PPD were detected in 27% of schoolchildren by in vitro IFN-gamma response and in 20% by the Heaf test. IFN-gamma responses were more prevalent to PPDs from species of mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis, predominantly those of the MAIS complex and M. marinum (45-60% responders). Heaf test and IFN-gamma responses were associated (P<0.001) for M. tuberculosis, MAIS and M. marinum. These findings have implications for appropriate implementation of vaccination against tuberculosis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Frequency distribution of the interferon (IFN)-γ response to (a) a negative control (RPMI), (b) a positive control [phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)] and (c) a non-mycobacterial control antigen (SK/SD), of study subjects (n = 424), as measured in the whole-blood assay.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Frequency distribution of the interferon (IFN)-γ response of study subjects (n = 424) to purified protein derivative (PPD) of (a) Mycobacterium tuberculosis and (b) – (i) other species of mycobacteria, as measured in the whole-blood assay.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Interferon (IFN)-γ responses to Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare and M. scrofulaceum (MAIS) purified protein derivatives (PPDs). The vertical axis shows the percentage of children responding to no antigen, or to one, two or all three antigens.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Heaf test responses to tuberculin in the study group (n = 424). (a) Frequency distribution of Heaf test responses. (b) Interferon (IFN)-γ responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) as a function of the Heaf test response. (c) IFN-γ responses to M. tuberculosis PPD, environmental mycobacteria PPDs and SK/SD, as a function of the Heaf test response. The median IFN-γ responses associated with each level of skin test sensitivity are shown for: ▪, M. tuberculosis PPD; ○, M. avium PPD; ⋄, M. intracellulare PPD; ▴, M. scrofulaceum PPD; □, M. marinum PPD; *, M. kansasii PPD; ×, M. fortuitum PPD; ▵, M. vaccae PPD; and •, SK/SD.
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