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Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV01:26

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis III01:31

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis II01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis II

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While its primary impact is on the lungs, leading to pulmonary tuberculosis, it can also affect various other organs, a condition referred to as extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
Tuberculosis01:23

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, primarily targeting the lungs and spreading through airborne transmission. Infection begins when aerosolized droplet nuclei, expelled by an individual with active TB, are inhaled by another person. These microscopic particles carry Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Upon reaching the alveoli, the bacilli are engulfed by alveolar macrophages. However, due to their specialized lipid-rich cell wall, these pathogens...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay (ELISPOT): Quantification of Th-1 Cellular Immune Responses Against Microbial Antigens
06:13

Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay (ELISPOT): Quantification of Th-1 Cellular Immune Responses Against Microbial Antigens

Published on: November 23, 2010

Using ELISPOT to expose false positive skin test conversion in tuberculosis contacts.

Philip C Hill1, David J Jeffries, Roger H Brookes

  • 1Bacterial Diseases Programme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia. phill@mrc.gm

Plos One
|February 1, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Repeat tuberculin skin tests can be falsely positive due to boosting from past mycobacterial exposure. An ELISPOT test may help identify tuberculosis (TB) contacts with boosted immunity, suggesting a third of conversions are not true TB infections.

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Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay (ELISPOT): Quantification of Th-1 Cellular Immune Responses Against Microbial Antigens
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Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Repeat tuberculin skin tests (TST) can yield false positives due to immune 'boosting' from prior exposure to non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
  • This phenomenon complicates the interpretation of TST results in tuberculosis (TB) case contacts.
  • Accurate identification of true TB infections versus boosted responses is crucial for effective contact tracing and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of the ELISPOT assay in distinguishing true TB infections from boosted immune responses in TB case contacts.
  • To estimate the proportion of TST conversions attributable to boosting from non-tuberculous mycobacterial exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted serial tuberculin skin tests and ELISPOT assays on 1665 TB contacts in The Gambia.
  • Assessed TST conversion rates and correlated them with factors like age, BCG scar, and TB case exposure.
  • Analyzed ELISPOT results in TST converters to estimate immune boosting, adjusting for assay sensitivity and specificity.

Main Results:

  • A total of 176 (25%) out of 704 contacts who underwent repeat TST showed conversion.
  • TST conversion rates increased significantly with TB case exposure, increasing age, and presence of a BCG scar.
  • ELISPOT results indicated that an estimated 32%-41% of TST conversions were likely due to immune boosting, particularly in older individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately one-third of tuberculin skin test conversions in Gambian TB case contacts may be attributed to boosting from non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
  • The ELISPOT assay shows potential for identifying case contacts with TST conversion who might benefit from prophylactic treatment.
  • Further longitudinal studies are needed to validate ELISPOT's reliability in this context.