A simplified serological test for leprosy based on a 3,6-di-O-methylglucose-containing synthetic antigen.

The recent advent of synthetic antigens containing the Mycobacterium leprae-specific epitope, 3,6-di-O-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, has allowed the development of simple specific serological tests for leprosy. The incorporation of one such product, 8-carbonyloctyl O-[4-O-(3,6-di-O-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-alpha-L- rhamnopyranoside]-BSA, into a simple "spot" test, diffusion-in-gel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), allowed an over 90% detection rate of untreated lepromatous leprosy, and the results showed good concordance with conventional ELISA based on the native phenolic glycolipid I.