Early secreted antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) is a virulent factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The identification of intracellular (i/c) ESAT-6 in host cells would be a direct marker of MTB infection. We developed a method to detect i/cESAT-6 by flow cytometry. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of i/cESAT-6 in the host cells of individuals with MTB infection.The expression of i/cESAT-6 was examined in the blood of 58 active TB patients, in 10 naïve to TB infection controls, in 17 patients who completed anti-TB treatment, and in 56 close contacts with an index TB case. Additionally, it was examined in the sputum of 12 active TB patients.The i/cESAT-6 was positively detected in the blood of 52 out of 58 (90

作者：Nikolaos, Poulakis；Angelos D, Gritzapis；Maria, Ploussi；Michail, Leventopoulos；Chrysovalantis V, Papageorgiou；Andreas, Anastasopoulos；Pantelis, Constantoulakis；Simona, Karabela；Evangelos, Vogiatzakis；Vassilis, Tsilivakos

来源：Cytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry 2016 年 90卷 3期