NUCLEIC ACIDS OF THE M ANTIGEN GENE OF HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM, ANTIGENS, VACCINES AND ANTIBODIES, METHODS AND KITS FOR DETECTING HISTOPLASMOSIS

摘要

The present invention provides the nucleotide sequence of the M antigen geneof H. capsulatum, which is set forth in the Sequence Listing as SEQ ID NO:1, anucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence complementary thereto, and nucleicacids having a nucleotide sequence which is substantially the same as theforegoing nucleotide sequences. The present invention also provides vectorsand host expressions systems containing the foregoing nucleic acids, andisolated or recombinantly-produced antigens encoded by the foregoing nucleicacids. The present invention further provides antibodies generated against theforegoing antigens, and methods and kits for detecting a previous or currentHistoplasma capsulatum infection in a subject, and for diagnosinghistoplasmosis.