ESAT-6

[1] It is used in tuberculosis diagnosis by the whole blood interferon γ test QuantiFERON-TB Gold, in conjunction with CFP-10.

ESAT-6 has been shown to directly bind to the TLR2 receptor, inhibiting downstream signal transduction.

[5] ESAT-6 is one of the main proteins that is inhibited in the production of vaccines for M. tuberculosis[3][6] with the combination of the increased antigenic factors agβ5-A and the agβ5-C.[6] There are studies that are currently trying to connect the linkage between ESAT-6 and the epithelial cells that are in the lungs, which has shown the dependence on the induction of the IL-8 promoter.

[8] Recent work shows that the production of these proteins is a process that is caused by the flanking genes.

[8][9] ESAT-6 and CFP-10 have also been increasingly used for in house antigen tests that now allow for quick testing of antibodies for the use of TB, but there are still determinations being made on what levels of these antigens or antibiodies would be considered normal.