Development of Antipeptide Antibodies as Immunodiagnostic Probes

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Reynolds, Steven H. AWARDEE ORGANIZATION: Life Sciences, Inc. 2900 72nd Street, North St. Petersburg, FL 33710 TELEPHONE NUMBER: (813) 345-9371 AWARDEE NUMBER: 200-93-0680 Tuberculosis is reemerging as a health threat in the United States. Primary reasons include the susceptibility of HIV-infected persons, the lack of rapid and effective diagnostic tests, and recent outbreaks of drug-resistant strains. The objective of this award is to produce monoclonal antibodies for the development of diagnostic immunoassays for detection of M. tuberculosis in clinical specimens, for diagnosis of infection, and for identification of drug-resistant strains. Superoxide dismutase and P32 antigen are secreted from viable M. tuberculosis cells, and may provide unique diagnostic markers. Decreased catalase/peroxidase activity, both with and without gene deletion, has been associated with drug-resistant strains. Peptides from these three M. tuberculosis proteins will be used as immunogens for the generation of site-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). Phase I efforts will (1) provide will-characterized Mabs to these M. tuberculosis antigens, and (2) provide initial development of immunoassays utilizing these Mabs. Further development of diagnostic immunoassays, including testing of clinical samples, will occur in Phase II. The production of diagnostic test kits will provide rapid and sensitive methods for screening clinical specimens for M. tuberculosis, a technology that is currently not available.