Diagnostics and vaccines for mycobacterial infections specifically mycobacterium paratuberculosis acylase (mpa)

摘要

A polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a polypeptide with at least 70% amino acid identity over 30 amino acids which has mpa activity. A polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:1 encoding the polypeptide and an antibody specific to the polypeptide are described. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines comprising the polypeptides, polynucleotides or antibodies. The presence of a Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection in a biological sample can be detected by providing a nucleic acid probe comprising a polynucleotide of SEQ ID No:1 or an antibody which is bought into contact with the sample and hybridization is allowed to occur. The formation of any nucleic acid duplex or antibody-antigen complex in the sample is detected. The method can be used to detect inflammatory diseases including CrohnÆs disease, JohneÆs disease and sarcoidosis.