Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the study design and subject enrolment. The study participants included 52 active TB patients, 31 latent TB infected subjects, and 65 non-infected healthy controls (gray boxes). Whole blood obtained from each subject was stimulated with M. tb Beijing/K-derived antigens, M. tb PPD, and HBHA, respectively. Potential biomarkers (i.e., IFN-γ, IL-6, CXCL10, TNF-α, and IFN-α) for TB were selected based on the immune signature through multiplex bead arrays. TB, tuberculosis; M. tb, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; QFT-GIT, QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube; LTBI, latent TB infection; HC, healthy control. AFB, acid-fast bacilli; PPD, purified protein derivatives; HBHA, heparin-binding haemagglutinin; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; CXCL10, C-X-C motif chemokine; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
