Mycobacterial-specific secretion of cytokines and chemokines in healthcare workers with apparent resistance to infection with .

Background: Currently, diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) is based on the secretion of IFN-γ in response to (Mtb) antigens, the absence of which is regarded as no infection. Some individuals appear to resist Mtb infection despite sustained exposure (resisters). In this study, we aimed to assess cytokines, chemokines and antibodies that may be associated with resistance to Mtb infection.

The Missing Link in Correlates of Protective Tuberculosis Immunity: Recognizing the Infected Cell.

For most vaccination studies, the assessment of vaccine-induced CD4 and CD8 T cells has relied upon the measurement of antigen-specific polyfunctional cells, typically using recombinant antigen or peptide pools. However, this approach leaves open the question as to whether or not these cells are responsive to the Mtb-infected cell within the context of Mtb infection and hence leaves open the possibility that a key parameter of vaccine immunogenicity may be overlooked. In this review, we discuss the case that these measurements almost certainly over-estimate the capacity of both CD4 and CD8 T cells to recognize the Mtb-infected cell.