Detection of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan with an antigen-capture ELISA in unprocessed urine of Tanzanian patients with suspected tuberculosis.

A direct antigen-capture ELISA based on the detection of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in unprocessed urine was evaluated for its usefulness in clinical practice. In Tanzania, 231 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and 103 healthy volunteers were screened with standard TB tests and with the new LAM-ELISA. Of 132 patients with confirmed pulmonary mycobacterial disease (positive sputum culture), 106 were positive using the LAM-ELISA (sensitivity 80.

Liposomes as carriers of peptide antigens: induction of antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes to conjugated and unconjugated peptides.

In the quest for effective immunization against complex diseases such as cancer, parasitic diseases, AIDS, and other viral infections, numerous peptides and recombinant proteins have been synthesized, examined for the ability to induce antibodies and CTLs, and tested for binding capability and therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy against the original target cell or organism. A liposome formulation, consisting of alum-adsorbed liposomes containing both a potent adjuvant, lipid A, and encapsulated or surface bound antigen, has had a record of safety and strong effectiveness for induction of antibodies in human vaccine trials. These same liposomes can also serve as effective vehicles for delivering conjugated or unconjugated peptides and proteins to antigen presenting cells for presentation via MHC class I and class II pathways for induction of CTLs and antibodies in experimental animal models.