The Mycobacterial HBHA Protein: A Promising Biomarker for Tuberculosis

Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(11):2051-2060. doi: 10.2174/0929867325666181029165805.

Abstract

A major goal in tuberculosis (TB) research is the identification, among the subjects infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), of those with active TB, or at higher risk of developing active disease, from the latently infected subjects. The classical heterogeneity of Mtb infection and TB disease is a major obstacle toward the identification of reliable biomarkers that can stratify Mtb infected subjects based on disease risk. The heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA) is a mycobacterial surface antigen that is implicated in tuberculosis (TB) pathogenesis. The host immune response against HBHA varies depending on the TB status and several studies are supporting the role of HBHA as a useful biomarker of TB.

Keywords: HBHA; MDR-TB; Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb); Tuberculosis; biomarkers; personalized medicine..

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis*
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Humans
  • Lectins / analysis*
  • Lectins / immunology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / chemistry*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / therapy
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / immunology
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Biomarkers
  • Lectins
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines
  • heparin-binding hemagglutinin