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Abstract

Current methods available for detection of tuberculosis are insufficient for accurate diagnosis, at the same time the recommended molecular diagnostic methods have not been adopted in countries with limited resources. Glutamine Synthetase (GS) enzyme which is found in large amounts in culture filtrates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was purified and used to develop an ELISA-based assay. The assay was used for the detection of GS in sputum of infected patients. The assay did not show any cross reactivity with microorganisms that are expected to be present in sputum specimen except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eighty four sputum samples were subjected to ELISA and results were compared to acid fast stain and culture. Only 25% of the samples showed positive culture of which, 17.8% were typical M. tuberculosis and 7.1% grew Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). The assay detected 31 (97%) out of 32 clinically diagnosed TB and acid fast smear positive cases. Two additional cases were detected by ELISA among the group of patients with clinical TB and acid fast smear negative, while negative results were shown for the group of patients receiving antitubercular treatment and with NTM. Sensitivity and specificity of the assay compared to culture was 100% and 74%, respectively.

Biography

Ghada Refaat Ahmed Abdellatif, lecturer of microbiology and immunology in the department of microbiology and immunology, faculty of pharmacy, MSA University. Has a bachelor of pharmaceutical sciences from the faculty of pharmacy, Alexandria University. A pHD holder from the faculty of pharmacy, Cairo University. The research areas of interest are immunology and molecular biology.

Email: grabdellatif74@hotmail.com