@article{26350,
  keywords = {Serology, Multidrug therapy, leprosy, diagnosis, Cellular immunity},
  author = {Freitas A and Oliveira RM and Hungria EM and Paula Vaz Cardoso L and Sousa ALOM and Costa MB and Reed S and Duthie M and Stefani MMA},
  title = {Alterations to antigen-specific immune responses before and after multidrug therapy of leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>This study evaluated the impact of leprosy multidrug therapy (MDT) on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and antibody responses at diagnosis in untreated paucibacillary (PB) (n=15) and multibacillary (MB) patients (n=15) using a panel of Mycobacterium leprae recombinant antigens (rMLs) (CMI: 46f, ML0276, ML2055, leprosy IDRI diagnostic 1 [LID-1], and ML2629, as negative control; serology: LID-1, 46f, 92f, and 33f, as negative control, and phenolic glycolipid I [PGL-I]) and at 2 time points after MDT (PB: 8-20months; MB: 4-22months). At diagnosis, PB patients produced interferon gamma (IFNγ), and MB patients exhibited low/absent response. Shortly after MDT, IFNγ production in PB patients declined except for LID-1; MB patients produced IFNγ to LID-1. Almost 2years after MDT, IFNγ levels declined in PB and MB patients. Most untreated PB patients were seronegative to PGL-I and rML, remaining so after MDT. Most untreated MB patients were seropositive to all antigens, and IgG to rMLs declined after MDT. Reduction in antigen-specific CMI in PB and in antibody response in MB patients may help monitor MDT effectiveness.</p>
},
  year = {2015},
  journal = {Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease},
  issn = {1879-0070},
  url = {http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ludimila_Cardoso/publication/280613429_Alterations_To_Antigen-Specific_Immune_Responses_Before_And_After_Multidrug_Therapy_Of_Leprosy/links/55c0ac5e08aed621de13d472.pdf },
  doi = {10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2015.06.021},
  language = {eng},
}