Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29211246›Full record

ArticleMemorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz2017

ELISA-based assay of immunoglobulin G antibodies against mammalian cell entry 1A (Mce1A) protein: a novel diagnostic approach for leprosy.

Filipe R Lima, Iukary Takenami, Maurílio Al Cavalcanti, Lee W Riley, Sérgio Arruda

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Hidden burden of leprosy in incarcerated populations in northeast Brazil: active case detection and serological assessment.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Cloning and characterization ofMolecular biology research communications · 2018
    Article
  10. Leprosy case series in the emergency room: A warning sign for a challenging diagnosis.The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases : an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Filipe R LimaFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Iukary TakenamiFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Maurílio Al CavalcantiHospital Couto Maia, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Lee W RileyUniversity of California, School of Public Health, Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Sérgio ArrudaFundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLeprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. Because leprosy diagnosis is complex and requires professional expertise, new tools and methodologies are needed to detect cases in early stages and prevent transmission. The M. leprae genome contains mce1A, which encodes a putative mammalian cell entry protein (Mce1A). We hypothesised that the presence of Mce1A on the cell surface could be detected by the host's immune system.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate antibody responses against the Mce1A protein in leprosy patients, household contacts of patients, and the general population to present an addition tool for leprosy diagnosis.

methodsA cross-sectional study involving 89 volunteers [55 leprosy cases, 12 household contacts (HHC) and 22 endemic controls (EC)] was conducted at Couto Maia Hospital, in Salvador, Bahia (BA), Brazil.

resultsThe median anti-Mce1A IgA was significantly higher in multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) cases than in EC (p < 0.0001). A similar trend was observed in IgM levels, which were significantly higher in both MB (p < 0.0001) and PB (p = 0.0006) groups compared to in EC individuals. The greatest differences were observed for IgG class-specific antibodies against Mce1A. The median levels of MB and PB were significantly higher compared to both controls HHC and EC (MB or PB vs EC, MB vs HHC p < 0.0001; PB vs HHC, p = 0.0013). Among leprosy cases, IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay sensitivity and specificity were 92.7% and 97.1%, respectively. IgG positivity was confirmed in 92.1% and 94.1% of MB and PB patients, respectively.

conclusionThis novel diagnostic approach presents an easy, non-invasive, and inexpensive method for leprosy screening, which may be applicable in endemic areas.

Indexed as

AdultAntibodies, BacterialBacterial ProteinsCase-Control StudiesEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFamily CharacteristicsFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin GLeprosyMaleMiddle AgedMycobacterium lepraeSensitivity and SpecificityYoung AdultAntibodies, BacterialBacterial ProteinsImmunoglobulin GMce1A protein, Mycobacterium leprae

Identifiers

PMID29211246
PMCPMC5719554

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.