Isolation of immunogenic glycopeptidolipids of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis

Mycobacterium avium (MA) is an important pathogen in both animals and humans which belongs to the M. avium complex (MAC). Diagnosis of MA-infections in pigs is traditionally based on the detection of granulomatous lesions in lymph nodes seen by eye at slaughter. Since sensitivity and specifi city of this approach is questioned (Komijn et al., 2007) we developed as an alternative a serodiagnostic ELISA assay on the basis of a polar lipid fraction from MA (Wisselink et al., 2009). We isolated glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) from M. avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) and analyzed them for their suitability for serodiagnosis of MA infections in pigs.