Antibody response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis p27-PPE36 antigen in sera of pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

We have expressed, characterized and studied the immune response of mice against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis PPE36 protein. This protein encoded by the gene Rv2108 is a 27-kDa cell-wall associated protein. Here, we compare the antibody isotypes distribution of p27-PPE36 in sera of pulmonary tuberculosis patients and in sera from healthy control subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We detected in the sera of affected individuals a significant increase of IgA antibody response, a no significant augmentation of IgM response, a complete lack of IgG2, 3, and 4 responses and a weak IgG1 response in a few subjects.