Tuberculin skin testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis cannot distinguish between active or latent M. tuberculosis infections; non tuberculosis mycobacteria infections; and BCG vaccine exposure, nor can skin testing positively identify M. tuberculosis infections in some immunosuppressed individuals. This invention focuses on the detection of proteins expressed by M. tuberculosi only while in a non-replicating state and therefore would serve as an indicator of latent infection. Detection of these proteins can be adapted to to standard diagnostic methods for clinical use.  

Inventors: Fred D Quinn, Kristin A Birkness, David S Beall, and Manon Deslauriers

CDC Reference Number: I-018-99/0

USPTO Serial Number: 

Patent Number: