Nobuyuki Harada, Kazue Higuchi,

The purpose of this project is to develop and evaluate new diagnostic methods for M. tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. We have evaluated the QuantiFERON-TB second generation (QFT-2G), in which whole blood is stimulated with antigens missing in BCG, and interferon-g produced in plasma is measured by ELISA. We have demonstrated that QFT-2G has higher specificity and sensitivity than the tuberculin skin test to diagnose Mtb infection.

Published papers
1) Mori T, Sakatani M, Yamagishi F, Takashima T, Kawabe Y, Nagao K, Shigeto E, Harada N, Mitarai S, Okada M, Suzuki K, Inoue Y, Tsuyuguchi K, Sasaki Y, Mazurek GH, and Tsuyuguchi I: Specific detection of tuberculosis infection; An interferon-g-based assay using new antigens. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 170: 59-64, 2004.
2) Harada N, Mori T, Shishido S, Higuchi K, and Sekiya Y.: Usefulness of a Novel Diagnostic Method of Tuberculosis Infection, QuantiFERONRTB-2G, in an Outbreak of Tuberculosis. Kekkaku 79: 637-643, 2004.
3) Harada N, Higuchi K, Sekiya Y, Rothel J, Kitoh T and Mori T: Basic characteristics of a novel diagnostic method (QuantiFERONRTB-2G) of latent tuberculosis infection with a use of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens, ESAT-6 and CFP-10. Kekkaku 79: 725-735, 2004.

Presentation in the international congresses
1) N. Harada, K. Higuchi, Y. Sekiya, T. Kitoh and T. Mori. Evaluation of a new diagnosis system for M. tuberculosis infection. 36th World Conference on Lung Health of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), Paris, October 28-November 1, 2004.
2) K. Higuchi, N. Harada, Y. Sekiya, Y. Nakajima and T. Mori. Investigation of M. tuberculosis infection among health care workers in Japan. 36th World Conference on Lung Health of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), Paris, October 28-November 1, 2004.