Immune Responses to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis -Specific Antigen ESAT-6 Signal Subclinical Infection among Contacts of Tuberculosis Patients

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Abstract
Diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is considered essential for tuberculosis control but is hampered by the lack of specific reagents. We report that strong recognition of tuberculosis complex-specific antigen ESAT-6 by healthy household contacts of tuberculosis patients correlates with the subsequent development of active tuberculosis during a 2-year follow-up period.