IFNG and leprosy: In view of its high immunogenicity in M. leprae-exposed individuals [9], the recombinant protein ML1601c was tested for induction of IFN-γ in PBMC derived from multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients, healthy house contacts (HHCs), tuberculosis (TB) patients, and healthy controls (EC) from Brazil and from 21 Dutch (nonendemic) control (NEC) individuals (Figure 1).