Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are relevant models to study the pathogenesis of
tuberculosis (TB) and evaluate the potential of TB
therapies, but rapid tools allowing diagnosis of active pulmonary TB in NHPs are lacking. This study investigates whether low complexity lateral flow assays utilizing upconverting reporter particles (UCP-LFAs) developed for rapid detection of human
serum proteins can be applied to detect and monitor active pulmonary TB in NHPs. UCP-LFAs were used to assess
serum proteins levels and changes in relation to the MTB challenge dosage, lung pathology, treatment, and disease outcome in experimentally MTB-infected macaques. Serum levels of SAA1, IP-10, and
IL-6 showed a significant increase after MTB
infection in rhesus macaques and correlated with disease severity as determined by pathology scoring. Moreover, these
biomarkers could sensitively detect the reduction of bacterial levels in the lungs of macaques due to BCG vaccination or drug treatment. Quantitative measurements by rapid UCP-LFAs specific for SAA1, IP-10, and
IL-6 in serum can be utilized to detect active progressive pulmonary TB in macaques. The UCP-LFAs thus offer a low-cost, convenient, and minimally invasive diagnostic tool that can be applied in studies on TB
vaccine and drug development involving macaques.