Recent studies have shown carbohydrates to be remarkable diagnostic and therapeutic agents. The present clinical management of TB has become difficult due to the insufficiencyof adequate diagnostic tests. The mannose-capped formula of lipoarabinomannan (a glycolipid) is exclusive to the envelope of slow-growing, pathogenic mycobacteria such as M.tuberculosis (M.tb) and eases passive invasion of mononuclear phagocytes. The discovery of this virulence factor in urine, sputum and serum has stimulated interest in its use as a biomarker for M.tb infection.

In this article, the methods of formulating therapeutic high affinity antibody with an extraordinary specificity for α1-2 mannose linkages is discussed, which will further elaborate the use of carbohydrates in this field.

 

The Clinical Trial

In this procedure, the samples that suggested pulmonary TB infection are collected and stored at -80 °C before the processing begins. Then the samples undergo various tests for the screening of monoclonal phage (also known as bacteriophage) antibodies and phage display panning. In this step, the phage library is subjected to an immunotube coated with 100 μg of lipoarabinomannan to isolate anti-ManLAM antibodies. Afterwards, human-mouse chimeric bodies are engineered with human G1 and G3 CH1 sequences and Mouse G2a CH2 and CH3. After running the process through ELISA (a test that uses antibodies to and color change to detect a substance) methodologies, Immuno-Fluorescence (IF) and acid fast bacilli staining tests are conducted.

Denaturation of Serum Antibodies

In serum denaturation experiments, lipoarabinomannan is supplemented to the blood before clotting and then the blood is allowed to coagulate at room temperature.

Data Analysis and Statistics

The data analysis showed that an antibody with exquisite specificity for the mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan is useful in detection and diagnosis of the slow growing pathogenic mycobacteria including M. tuberculosis, avium, bovis and leprae.

We saw that how lipoarabinomannan, a glycolipid (molecule of carbohydrates and lipids) can help in the detection and diagnosis of M.Tuberculosis. Apart from TB, there are a number of human conditions can be advantaged from the diagnostic and therapeutic properties of carbohydrates, including diabetes mellitus and sclerosis of various kinds. Watson International is one such chemical trading company and catalyst manufacturer that has invested heavily in the study carbohydrates to improve human living standards. For further information regarding the company, their philosophy and the carbohydrate products offered by them, please visit their website or contact them by clicking here.