PROTEINS, PEPTIDES, DNA SEQUENCES, DNA OR RNA HYBRIDIZATION EVIDENCE, ANTIBODY, TUBERCULOSIS IMMUNE DIAGNOSIS, MICROORGANISM, TUBERCULOSIS VACCINE, PROCESS FOR TUBERCULOSIS TUBERCULOSIS TUBERCULOSIS

摘要

Disclosed are the immunochemical properties of a 17 kDa protein antigen fractionated, purified and sequenced for amino acids from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (South Indian isolate, SII 1) which causes human tuberculosis worldwide among 16 million patients. The 17 kDa protein antigen which has an N-terminus of A T T L P V Q R (aa 1-8) has at least three specific antibody binding epitopes located on linear peptides of sequences, R A T Y D K R Y E V R (aa 91-101) and S E F A Y G S F V R (aa 68-77) which were useful in a micro ELISA for the early diagnosis of human tuberculosis by the detection of specific antibodies. The 17 kDa protein antigen which was mitogenic for human tuberculous peripheral blood lymphocytes was found to carry three predicted T-cell epitopes on linear peptides of sequences, S E F A Y G S F V R (aa 68-77) and A E L P G V D P D C D V C I T R (aa 107-122). The 17 kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis (SII 1) which thus had both B and T cell reactive properties was found to contain 131 amino acids and potentially applicable in the immuno diagnosis, immuno therapy and immuno prophylaxis of human tuberculosis.