Culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) (CFP-10)

Culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) is a low-molecular-weight protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a critical component of the pathogen's virulence machinery [1, 6]. It is encoded by the RD1 (Region of Difference 1) genomic locus and is secreted via the ESX-1 (Type VII) secretion system [6, 10]. CFP-10 forms a stable 1:1 heterodimeric complex with Early Secretory Antigenic Target-6 (ESAT-6), where it acts as a chaperone to facilitate the secretion and stability of the complex [6]. Once secreted, the ESAT-6:CFP-10 complex plays a vital role in host-pathogen interactions, including the disruption of the phagosomal membrane to allow bacterial escape into the cytosol and the modulation of host immune responses [3, 4]. CFP-10 is highly immunogenic, stimulating both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, which makes it a cornerstone of modern tuberculosis diagnostics such as Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs) [5, 15]. Because it is absent in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine strain, it allows for the differentiation between infected individuals and those who have been vaccinated [12, 15]. Therapeutically, CFP-10 is being investigated as a target for anti-virulence drugs that inhibit its secretion and as a key antigen in next-generation subunit and DNA vaccines [1, 11, 20]. Experimental inhibitors like IMB-BZ have shown promise in blocking its secretion, thereby reducing mycobacterial virulence and survival within host cells [1]. However, challenges remain, including potential cross-reactivity with certain non-tuberculous mycobacteria in diagnostic settings and the need for stable delivery systems in therapeutic applications [11, 15].

Other names

EsxB10 kDa culture filtrate antigenMTSA-10L-ESAT-6

Inhibition of protein secretion via the ESX-1 system; Antigenic stimulation for vaccine-induced immunity