Importance of the immune response to Mycobacterium leprae in the skin

Abstract

The causative agent of leprosy is Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), which establishes infectious lesions in the skin. Leprosy is classified based on the clinical manifestation, the host's immune response and skin symptoms. M. leprae is an intracellular pathogen that invades keratinocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and Schwann cells and replicates within these cells. M. leprae-infected keratinocytes secrete various cytokines and chemokines and induce highly effective immune responses. Understanding the mechanisms by which M. leprae establishes an infection within the skin and the associated immune response may be of great help in the early detection and treatment of the disease.

Aptamers for Detection and Diagnostics (ADD): Can mobile systems process optical data from aptamer sensors to identify molecules indicating presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus? Should healthcare explore aptamers as drugs for prevention as well as its use as adjuvants with antibodies and vaccines?

“…Use of a lectin sensor as the positive control (Table III) needs no further emphasis. The negative control may be a mannose-binding lectin (MBL) sensor or something even more specific for detecting Mycobacterium leprae 591 which prefers to grow in cooler extremities of the human body (around ~30°C 592 ) and unlikely to be present in human saliva samples. The application of both in the context of the current pandemic is viewed as a tool to stem transmission by early detection (and in future, explore the potential of aptamers as small molecule drugs as parallels and alternates or adjuvants to vaccines and antibodies).…”

Aptamers for Detection and Diagnostics (ADD): Can mobile systems process optical data from aptamer sensors to identify molecules indicating presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus? Should healthcare explore aptamers as drugs for prevention as well as its use as adjuvants with antibodies and vaccines?

“…Use of a lectin sensor as the positive control (Table III) needs no further emphasis. The negative control may be a mannose-binding lectin (MBL) sensor or something even more specific for detecting Mycobacterium leprae 591 which prefers to grow in cooler extremities of the human body (around ~30°C 592 ) and unlikely to be present in human saliva samples.…”

Aptamers for Detection and Diagnostics (ADD) is a proposed mobile app acquiring optical data from conjugated quantum nanodots to identify molecules indicating presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus: Why public health and healthcare need smartphone sensors as a platform for early detection and prevention

“…Use of a lectin sensor as the positive control (Table III) needs no further emphasis. The negative control may be a mannose-binding lectin (MBL) sensor or something even more specific for detecting Mycobacterium leprae 584 which prefers to grow in cooler extremities of the human body (around ~30°C 585 ) and unlikely to be present in human saliva samples. The choice of lectin sensors as controls to improve confidence in data from aptamer tests.…”