British research team developed a monoclonal antibody, the experimental model validation, the antibody used in combination with interferon may be effective against tuberculosis infection.

TB is the human face of the major public health problems, about 200 million people worldwide die each year of the disease, the United Kingdom in 2010 while the number of tuberculosis cases in 10 years hit a new high. Although a variety of antibiotics and drugs to prevent the generation of the TB cases in the world, once a rapid decline, but the attendant, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis strains has become increasingly evident, the development of new methods to prevent and control the kinds of disease becomes extremely urgent.

The research team from the University of Dundee, University of London Kings College London, St Georges College researchers. They developed the monoclonal antibody is a Class A immunoglobulin (lgA), are homogeneous antibodies, may identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It does this by binding the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, trigger the bodys immune response to prevent the spread of bacterial growth. Paper said that although monoclonal antibodies have been widely used in cancer and inflammatory diseases, but this is the first time studies have shown that it can be used to treat tuberculosis.


Immune globulin is very important to the bodys immune effector molecules, due to different structures can be divided into IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM in five categories. The researchers believe that, A class of immunoglobulins with the characteristics to make it easier for TB bacteria. Although the actual clinical application but also a lot of research before, but this discovery from the scientists to develop new tuberculosis treatment a step closer.

The study published in the latest issue of "Immunology", the researchers believe that the results will help scientists to develop new tuberculosis treatment.