Tuberculosis Antigen Detection Assays And Vaccines

Abstract

The present invention relates to isolated Tuberculosis (TB) antigens that are useful in therapeutic and vaccine compositions for stimulating a TB specific immunological response. The identified antigens are also useful in diagnostic assays to determine the presence of active TB in an individual. Accordingly, the present invention includes polypeptide molecules, nucleic acid molecules, vaccine compositions, diagnostic assays, and methods of diagnosis and monitoring treatment related to these TB antigens.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/478,366, filed Jun. 29, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/717,062, filed Sep. 14, 2005, entitled "Tuberculosis Antigen Detection Assays and Vaccines" and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/696,439, filed Jul. 1, 2005, entitled "Tuberculosis Antigen Detection Assays and Vaccines." The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] More than one-third of the world population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the Tuberculosis (TB) disease. Each year, 8 million people become infected with TB, and 2 million people die from the disease. TB significantly affects developing countries and is also becoming an increasing problem in developed areas of the world.

[0004] Persons infected with TB can be asymptomatic for a considerable period of time, and can be in a latent stage of the disease. In its active state, the disease is often manifested with an acute inflammation of the lungs, resulting in fever and a nonproductive cough. If untreated, serious complications and death typically result. Present diagnostic assays are often inaccurate, and are unable to distinguish between persons in the latent stage of the disease and those in the active stage.

[0005] Currently, vaccination with live bacteria is one method for immunizing persons against the disease. However, TB vaccination with certain live bacteria has often been the source of controversy in some countries, including the United States, and consequently has not been put into widespread use in the U.S. Additionally, current diagnostic tests are many times unable to distinguish between persons who have been immunized, and persons infected with TB.

[0006] Effective vaccination and accurate early diagnosis of the disease are important to control the disease. Consequently, a need exists for effective diagnostic assays that detect active infection by the TB bacteria. A further need exits for a vaccine that does not use a live bacteria and provides a protective immunogenic response to the disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to isolated polypeptide molecules that have an immunogenic portion of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen, or a variant of the antigen that differs only in conservative substitutions and/or modifications. The antigen has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof; or an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; the coding region of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; a complement of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; or a sequence that hybridizes (e.g., under high stringency conditions) to SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof. In one embodiment, the isolated polypeptide molecule stimulates an immunogenic specific Tuberculosis (TB) response in a host or an animal (e.g., human, mouse, pig, goat, monkey). In another embodiment, the present invention includes an isolated polypeptide molecule of an immunogenic portion of a M. tuberculosis antigen, wherein the antigen comprises an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having greater than or equal to about 70% identity (e.g., about 80% identity, 90% identity, about 95% identity) with any one of the sequences recited above. The present invention, in one embodiment, includes an isolated polypeptide molecule, wherein an amino acid sequence has greater than or equal to about 70% similarity (e.g., about 80% similarity, about 90% similarity, about 95% similarity) to the sequences recited herein.

[0008] The present invention further embodies isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode polypeptide molecules that have an immunogenic portion of a M. tuberculosis antigen, or a variant of the antigen that differs only in conservative substitutions and/or modifications. The antigen is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; the coding region of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; a complement of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; that hybridizes (e.g., under high stringency conditions) to SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; or that encodes SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof The isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes a polypeptide molecule that stimulates an immunogenic specific TB response. The present invention also includes isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode a polypeptide molecule that has an immunogenic portion of a M. tuberculosis antigen, wherein the antigen is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having greater than or equal to about 70% identity (e.g., about 80% identity, 90% identity, about 95% identity) of the recited sequences. The present invention, in one embodiment, includes isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode polypeptide molecules whose sequence has greater than or equal to about 70% similarity (e.g., about 80% similarity, about 90% similarity, about 95% similarity) to the sequences recited herein.

[0009] Yet another embodiment of the invention includes vectors, plasmids and host cells that contain the nucleic acid molecules or encode the polypeptide molecules described herein. The host cell can be any cell including, e.g., E. coli, yeast and mammalian cells. The present invention additionally includes probes that hybridize under stringency conditions (e.g., high or moderate) to a nucleic acid molecules described herein.

[0010] The present invention includes antibodies that bind to one or more of the polypeptide molecules described herein. The antibody can be a monoclonal antibody or a polyclonal antibody. The invention also pertains to fusion proteins that comprise one or more the polypeptide molecules described herein (e.g., two polypeptide molecules). In addition to including the polypeptide molecules of the present invention, the fusion protein can also include other M. tuberculosis antigens, including those presented on a MHC Class-2 molecule (e.g., a CD4+ T-cell pathway TB antigen).

[0011] The present invention includes methods for stimulating a specific immunogenic TB response in an individual, preventing or reducing the severity of the TB disease, by administering an amount of one or more of the polypeptide molecules or nucleic acid molecules described herein (e.g., in a carrier). In another aspect, the present invention includes compositions (e.g., vaccine compositions or pharmaceutical compositions) having the polypeptide molecules or nucleic acid molecules described herein, in a physiologically acceptable carrier. The composition can also include or can be co-administered with an immune response enhancer (e.g., an adjuvant, another TB antigen, immunostimulatory cytokine or chemokine) Examples of adjuvants include 3D-MPL and QS21. The composition can be formulated in an oil in water emulsion.

[0012] The present invention further embodies methods for monitoring treatment of the TB disease in an individual. The methods include detecting the level of one or more M. tuberculosis antigenic polypeptides described herein in a sample from the individual;

[0013] and comparing the level with a standard. A level of TB antigenic peptides that is higher than the standard indicates ineffective treatment, and a level that is less than or equal to the standard indicates effective treatment. The method of monitoring treatment can also include detecting levels of one or more of the TB antigenic peptides described herein in a sample at one or more time points (e.g., a first or baseline time point, and second time point after commencement of treatment), and comparing the levels at the time points. Increases in the levels of the peptides indicates ineffective treatment, and decrease or no change in the levels indicates effective treatment.

[0014] The invention includes methods of diagnosing TB disease in an individual by detecting the presence, absence, or levels of one or more of the polypeptide molecules described herein. The diagnostic assays of the present invention also allow one to distinguish between an individual having the active TB disease and immunity to TB. Such a method includes detecting the presence, absence or level of one or more of the polypeptide molecules described herein, and measuring the stimulation of a TB specific immune response in the individual. The absence of the polypeptide molecules in a sample from the individual, and the presence of a TB specific immune response in the individual indicates that the individual has acquired some immunity to the TB disease and not the disease itself Measuring the stimulation of a TB specific immune response includes measuring cell proliferation, interleukin-12 production, interferon-.gamma. levels, or a combination thereof, in a sample from the individual.

[0015] The present invention includes, in an additional embodiment, methods for detecting M. tuberculosis infection in a biological sample, by assessing the presence of one or more of the polypeptide molecules described herein in the sample. The presence of one or more of the molecules indicate the presence of M. tuberculosis infection; and the absence of one or more of the molecules indicate the absence of M. tuberculosis infection. In particular, methods include contacting the sample with an antibody (e.g., a detectably labeled antibody) that binds with the polypeptide molecule, sufficiently to allow formation of a complex between the sample and the antibody, to thereby form an antigen-antibody complex; and detecting the antigen-antibody complex. The presence of the complex indicates the presence of M. tuberculosis infection, and the absence of a complex indicates the absence of M. tuberculosis infection. In one aspect, the method further includes contacting the sample with a second antibody specific to the antigen or the antigen-antibody complex. The polypeptide or the antibody can be bound to a solid support, and the biological sample can be urine, blood, sputum, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissue sample.

[0016] Methods for detecting M. tuberculosis infection in a biological sample also include contacting the sample with at least two oligonucleotide primers in a polymerase chain reaction, wherein at least one of the oligonucleotide primers (e.g., at least about 10 contiguous bases) is specific for one or more of the isolated nucleic acid molecules described herein, sufficiently to allow amplification of the primers; and detecting in the sample the amplified nucleic acid sequence. The presence any one of the amplified nucleic acid sequences indicates M. tuberculosis infection, and the absence of any one of the amplified nucleic acid sequences indicates an absence of M. tuberculosis infection. Another method for detecting M. tuberculosis infection in a biological sample includes contacting the sample with one or more oligonucleotide probes (e.g., at least about 15 contiguous bases) specific for the nucleic acid molecule described herein under high stringency conditions, sufficiently to allow hybridization between the sample and the probe; and detecting the nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to the oligonucleotide probe in the sample. The presence of hybridization of the probe indicates M. tuberculosis infection, and the absence of hybridization indicates an absence of M. tuberculosis infection.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention includes kits for diagnosing the presence or absence of M. tuberculosis infection in a person. The kit comprises one or more reagents for detecting one or more of polypeptide molecules or nucleic acid molecules described herein. The reagents can include those that are used for carrying out an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a rapid immunochromatographic assay, a flow cytometric analysis, or a radioimmunoassay. Such kits can comprise one or more nucleic acid molecules having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; the complements of said sequences, and nucleic acid sequences that hybridize to a sequence recited in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination; and a detection reagent. Kits can include other items such as solid supports, and detection agents (e.g., a reporter group like radioisotopes, fluorescent groups, luminescent groups, enzymes, biotin and dye particles; conjugated to a binding agent such as anti-immunoglobulins, Protein G, Protein A and lectins). Advantages of the present invention include new methods for preventing or reducing the severity of the TB disease by providing an effective vaccine composition. The assays of the present invention allow simple and easy to administer urine tests to quickly and efficiently distinguish between patients having active TB and those who do not. New vaccine compositions and more effective diagnostic assays will assist in reducing the present worldwide TB problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIGS. 1A-1G are schematics showing the nucleic acid sequences (in Bold) (SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27) and corresponding M. tuberculosis polypeptide sequences (in Bold) (SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28) eluted from MHC class 1 molecules from the macrophages of mice infected with the M. tuberculosis bacteria. FIG. 1H is a table showing M. tuberculosis peptide sequences, SEQ ID Nos: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, and 26, eluted from MHC class 1 molecules from the macrophages of mice infected with the M. tuberculosis bacteria. The figure also shows The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) annotation, the Swiss-Prot designation, and the protein name.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic showing a peptide, SEQ ID NO: 30, in bold, found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and its corresponding nucleic acid sequence, SEQ ID NO: 29. The figure also shows a DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 31) and its corresponding protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 32) which is a putative molybdopterin biosynthesis protein that is found in M. tuberculosis and has 100% homology to SEQ ID NO: 30.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic showing the protocol used to purify and sequence MHC Class 1 associated peptides isolated from M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an example of a immunochromatographic assay for the detection of TB antigens of the present invention in a sample.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a table showing M. tuberculosis peptide sequences, SEQ ID Nos: 34, 38, 42, and 46, found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and the M. tuberculosis donor protein.

[0023] FIGS. 6A-B are schematics showing the nucleic acid sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 33) and corresponding M. tuberculosis polypeptide sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 34) found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Also depicted are Homoserine O-acetyltransferase nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences from M. tuberculosis having 100% homology to the isolated sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 35 and 36, respectively), along with a table providing Genomic Research (TIGR) Locus name, primary locus name, the Swiss-Prot designation, putative identification, Gene Symbol, TIGR cellular roles, coordinates, DNA molecule name, gene length, protein length, molecular weight, pl, percent GC, enzyme Commission #, Kingdom, and Family.

[0024] FIGS. 7A-C are schematics showing the nucleic acid sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 37) and corresponding M. tuberculosis polypeptide sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 38) found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Also depicted are Chromosome partition protein smc nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences from M. tuberculosis having 100% homology to the isolated sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 39 and 40, respectively), along with a table providing the TIGR Locus name, primary locus name, the Swiss-Prot designation, putative identification, Gene Symbol, TIGR cellular roles, coordinates, DNA molecule name, gene length, protein length, molecular weight, pl, percent GC, enzyme Commission #, Kingdom, and Family.

[0025] FIGS. 8A-B are schematics showing the nucleic acid sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 41) and corresponding M. tuberculosis polypeptide sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 42) found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Also depicted are Ornithine carbamoyltransferase nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences from M. tuberculosis having 100% homology to the isolated sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, respectively), along with a table providing the TIGR Locus name, primary locus name, the Swiss-Prot designation, putative identification, Gene Symbol, TIGR cellular roles, coordinates, DNA molecule name, gene length, protein length, molecular weight, pl, percent GC, enzyme Commission #, Kingdom, and Family.

[0026] FIGS. 9A-B are schematics showing the nucleic acid sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 45) and corresponding M. tuberculosis polypeptide sequence (in Bold and Underline) (SEQ ID NO: 46) found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Also depicted are phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate reductase nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences from M. tuberculosis having 100% homology to the isolated sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 47 and 48, respectively), along with a table providing the TIGR Locus name, primary locus name, the Swiss-Prot designation, putative identification, Gene Symbol, TIGR cellular roles, coordinates, DNA molecule name, gene length, protein length, molecular weight, pl, percent GC, enzyme Commission #, Kingdom, and Family.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a representation of Western Blot showing over-expression and purification of recombinants MT1694, MT2462 and MT2990 from E. coli lysates from non-induced cultures (lanes 1); E. coli lysates from isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induced cultures (lanes 2); and purified recombinant proteins (lanes 3), and the molecular weight markers (MWM).

[0028] FIG. 11 is a representation of Western Blot showing identification of native MTB1694 and MT2462 in crude whole M. tuberculosis cell lysate (Lane 1); culture filtrate (CF) proteins (Lane 2); purified recombinant antigen (Lane 3); and molecular weight markers (MWM), wherein antigens were electrophoresed and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane followed by probing with either rabbit anti-MTB 1694 or anti-MT2462 antisera.

[0029] FIG. 12A is a bar graph showing the recognition of MT1694 and MT2452 by proliferative responses expressed as counts per minute (CPM) from healthy PPD (an intradermal skin test response to tuberculosis proteins using a Purified Protein Derivative) negative (donor 1) and PPD positive (donors 2-5) individuals following stimulation with recombinant antigens (5 ug/ml).

[0030] FIG. 12B is a bar graph showing the recognition of MT1694 and MT2452 by IFN-.gamma. production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy PPD negative (donor 1) and PPD positive (donors 2-5) individuals following stimulation with recombinant antigens (5 ug/ml).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows. The present invention relates to vaccine compositions and diagnostic assays for the Tuberculosis (TB) disease. The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of certain TB antigenic peptides presented on the MHC class 1 macrophage, when a host is infected with the bacteria that causes TB, namely the M. tuberculosis bacteria. MHC class-1 macrophages are cells that play a role in the CD8+ T-Cell pathway of the immune response. A second discovery that forms the basis of the present invention is the identification of a TB peptide present in the urine of people infected with active TB. The identity of the specific antigenic TB peptides presented on MHC class 1 cell, and the identity of the TB peptide found in urine of infected patients, provide the polypeptide sequences needed to create effective vaccines and/or diagnostic tests.

[0032] TB vaccine compositions of the present invention can include polypeptide sequences or nucleic acid sequences, and, optionally, additional immune enhancing molecules. Hence, the present invention, in part, relates to the specific antigenic TB polypeptide sequences discovered, which are shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-9 namely, SEQ ID NOs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and combinations thereof. SEQ ID NOs: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, and 26 were isolated by infecting mice with significant amounts of M. tuberculosis bacteria. About two weeks after the mice were infected, the spleen was removed, and MHC class 1 molecules, molecules that present antigens to CD8+ T cells, were separated, in accordance with the methods detailed in Example 1. A number of peptides that were found on MHC class 1 molecules were identified as being of M. tuberculosis origin. SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27, the nucleic acid sequences that encode these identified polypeptides, are also shown in FIG. 1A-H.

[0033] SEQ ID NO: 30, MVIIELMRR, is a peptide found the in urine of persons with pulmonary TB, and this sequence has 100% homology with a M. tuberculosis biosynthesis protein, SEQ ID NO: 32, shown in FIG. 2. The nucleic acid sequence, SEQ ID NO: 31, that encodes this protein is also shown. Additionally, FIGS. 5-9 show SEQ ID NOs: 34, 38, 42, and 46 that were also found in the urine of persons with pulmonary TB, and have 100% homology with SEQ ID NOs: 36, 40, 44, and 48, respectively. The methods used to identify these TB protein in the urine of patients infected with active

[0034] TB are described in Example 2.

[0035] Accordingly, the present invention relates to these sequences, SEQ ID NO: 1-48, that have been identified as being useful in eliciting a protective immune response against TB, and for diagnostic assays for identifying persons with active TB.

Polypeptides and their Function

[0036] The present invention relates to isolated polypeptide molecules that have been isolated including antigenic portions of TB sequences presented by MHC class 1 molecule in an infected host, and TB sequences isolated from urine of infected patients. The present invention includes polypeptide molecules that contain the sequence of any one of the antigenic TB amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combinations thereof). See FIGS. 1, 2 and 5-9. The present invention also pertains to polypeptide molecules that are encoded by nucleic acid sequences, SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof).

[0037] As used herein, the term "polypeptide" encompasses amino acid chains of any length, including full length proteins (i.e., antigens), wherein the amino acid residues are linked by covalent peptide bonds. Thus, a polypeptide comprising an immunogenic portion of a M. tuberculosis antigen can consist entirely of the immunogenic portion, or can contain additional sequences. The additional sequences can be derived from the native M. tuberculosis antigen or can be heterologous, and such sequences can (but need not) be immunogenic. In general, the polypeptides disclosed herein are prepared in substantially pure form. Preferably, the polypeptides are at least about 80% pure, more preferably at least about 90% pure and most preferably at least about 99% pure.

[0038] Antigenic TB polypeptides of the present invention referred to herein as "isolated" are polypeptides that separated away from other proteins and cellular material of their source of origin. Isolated antigenic TB polypeptides, peptides derived by infection with the M. tuberculosis bacteria, include essentially pure protein, proteins produced by chemical synthesis, by combinations of biological and chemical synthesis and by recombinant methods. The proteins of the present invention have been isolated and characterized as to its physical characteristics using the procedures described in the Exemplification, and can be done using laboratory techniques for protein purification. Such techniques include, for example, salting out, immunoprecipation, column chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography or electrophoresis.

[0039] The compositions and methods of the present invention also encompass variants of the above polypeptides and DNA molecules. A polypeptide "variant," as used herein, is a polypeptide that differs from the recited polypeptide only in conservative substitutions and/or modifications, such that the therapeutic, antigenic and/or immunogenic properties of the polypeptide are retained. A variant of a specific M. tuberculosis antigen will therefore stimulate cell proliferation and/or IFN-.gamma. in Thl cells raised against that specific antigen. Polypeptide variants preferably exhibit at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 90% and most preferably at least about 95% homology to the identified polypeptides. For polypeptides with immunoreactive properties, variants can, alternatively, be identified by modifying the amino acid sequence of one of the above polypeptides, and evaluating the immunoreactivity of the modified polypeptide. Such modified sequences can be prepared and tested using, for example, the representative procedures described herein.

[0040] As used herein, a "conservative substitution" is one in which an amino acid is substituted for another amino acid that has similar properties, such that one skilled in the art of peptide chemistry would expect the secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the polypeptide to be substantially unchanged. In general, the following groups of amino acids represent conservative changes: (1) ala, pro, gly, glu, asp, gln, asn, ser, thr; (2) cys, ser, tyr, thr; (3) val, ile, leu, met, ala, phe; (4) lys, arg, his; and (5) phe, tyr, trp, his.

[0041] Variants can also, or alternatively, contain other modifications, including the deletion or addition of amino acids that have minimal influence on the antigenic properties, secondary structure and hydropathic nature of the polypeptide. For example, a polypeptide can be conjugated to a signal (or leader) sequence at the N-terminal end of the protein which co-translationally or post-translationally directs transfer of the protein. The polypeptide can also be conjugated to a linker or other sequence for ease of synthesis, purification or identification of the polypeptide (e.g., poly-His), or to enhance binding of the polypeptide to a solid support. For example, a polypeptide can be conjugated to an immunoglobulin Fc region.

[0042] The present invention also encompasses TB proteins and polypeptides, variants thereof, or those having amino acid sequences analogous to the amino acid sequences of antigenic TB polypeptides described herein. Such polypeptides are defined herein as antigenic TB analogs (e.g., homologues), or mutants or derivatives. "Analogous" or "homologous" amino acid sequences refer to amino acid sequences with sufficient identity of any one of the TB amino acid sequences so as to possess the biological activity (e.g., the ability to elicit a protective immune response to TB bacteria) of any one of the native TB polypeptides. For example, an analog polypeptide can be produced with "silent" changes in the amino acid sequence wherein one, or more, amino acid residues differ from the amino acid residues of any one of the TB protein, yet still possesses the function or biological activity of the TB. Examples of such differences include additions, deletions or substitutions of residues of the amino acid sequence of TB. Also encompassed by the present invention are analogous polypeptides that exhibit greater, or lesser, biological activity of any one of the TB proteins of the present invention. Such polypeptides can be made by mutating (e.g., substituting, deleting or adding) one or more amino acid or nucleic acid residues to any of the isolated TB molecules described herein. Such mutations can be performed using methods described herein and those known in the art. In particular, the present invention relates to homologous polypeptide molecules having at least about 70% (e.g., 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%) identity or similarity with SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof. Percent "identity" refers to the amount of identical nucleotides or amino acids between two nucleotides or amino acid sequences, respectfully. As used herein, "percent similarity" refers to the amount of similar or conservative amino acids between two amino acid sequences.

[0043] The polypeptides of the present invention, including a full length sequence, partial sequences, functional fragments and homologues, that allow for or assist in stimulating an immunogenic specific or protective immune response to TB. "Immunogenic," as used herein, refers to the ability to elicit an immune response (e.g., cellular) in a patient, such as a human, and/or in a biological sample. In particular, antigens that are immunogenic (and immunogenic portions thereof) stimulate cell proliferation, interleukin-12 production and/or interferon-.gamma. production in biological samples comprising one or more cells (e.g., T cells, NK cells, B cells and macrophage). Such cells are derived from an M. tuberculosis-immune individual. Immunogenic portions of the antigens described herein can be prepared and identified using the techniques described herein. Other techniques, such as those summarized in Paul, Fundamental Immunology, 3d ed., Raven Press, 1993, pp. 243-247 and references cited therein, can be used. Such techniques include screening polypeptide portions of the native antigen for immunogenic properties. An immunogenic portion of a polypeptide is a portion that, within such assays, generates an immune response (e.g., proliferation, interferon-.gamma. production and/or interleukin-12 production) that is substantially similar to that generated by the full-length antigen. In other words, an immunogenic portion of an antigen can generate at least about 20%, and preferably about 100%, of the proliferation induced by the full length antigen in the model proliferation assay described herein. An immunogenic portion can also, or alternatively, stimulate the production of at least about 20%, and preferably about 100%, of the interferon-.gamma. and/or interleukin-12 induced by the full length antigen in the model assay described herein. As used herein, "TB" or "TB disease" refers to the disease cause by the infection of M. tuberculosis.

[0044] Homologous polypeptides can be determined using methods known to those of skill in the art. Initial homology searches can be performed at NCBI against the GenBank, EMBL and SwissProt databases using, for example, the BLAST network service. Altschuler, S. F., et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215:403 (1990), Altschuler, S. F., Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389-3402 (1998). Computer analysis of nucleotide sequences can be performed using the MOTIFS and the FindPatterns subroutines of the Genetics Computing Group (GCG, version 8.0) software. Protein and/or nucleotide comparisons were performed according to Higgins and Sharp (Higgins, D. G. and Sharp, P. M., Gene, 73:237-244 (1988) e.g., using default parameters).

[0045] Additionally, the individual isolated polypeptides of the present invention are biologically active or functional and play various roles in bacteria as well. For example, isolated polypeptide, such as SEQ ID NO: 6 is a glutamine-transport transmembrane protein ABC transporter. Likewise, SEQ ID NO: 22 is a cationic amino acid transport integral member protein, and SEQ ID NO: 26 is a Cationic transporting P-type ATPase. SEQ ID NO: 32, is a molybdopterin biosynthesis protein. The present invention includes fragments of these isolated amino acid sequences, yet possess the function or biological activity of the sequence. For example, polypeptide fragments comprising deletion mutants of the antigenic TB proteins can be designed and expressed by well-known laboratory methods. Fragments, homologues, or analogous polypeptides can be evaluated for biological activity, as described herein.

[0046] The present invention also encompasses biologically active derivatives or analogs of the above described antigenic TB polypeptides, referred to herein as peptide mimetics. Mimetics can be designed and produced by techniques known to those of skill in the art. (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,612,132; 5,643,873 and 5,654,276). These mimetics can be based, for example, on a specific TB amino acid sequence and maintain the relative position in space of the corresponding amino acid sequence. These peptide mimetics possess biological activity similar to the biological activity of the corresponding peptide compound, but possess a "biological advantage" over the corresponding antigenic TB amino acid sequence with respect to one, or more, of the following properties: solubility, stability and susceptibility to hydrolysis and proteolysis.

[0047] Methods for preparing peptide mimetics include modifying the N-terminal amino group, the C-terminal carboxyl group, and/or changing one or more of the amino linkages in the peptide to a non-amino linkage. Two or more such modifications can be coupled in one peptide mimetic molecule. Modifications of peptides to produce peptide mimetics are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,643,873 and 5,654,276. Other forms of the antigenic TB polypeptides, encompassed by the present invention, include those which are "functionally equivalent." This term, as used herein, refers to any nucleic acid sequence and its encoded amino acid, which mimics the biological activity of the TB polypeptides and/or functional domains thereof.

TB Nucleic Acid Sequences, Plasmids, Vectors and Host Cells

[0048] The present invention, in one embodiment, includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof. See FIGS. 1, 2 and 5-9. The present invention includes sequences as recited in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-9, as well as the coding regions thereof

[0049] As used herein, the terms "DNA molecule" or "nucleic acid molecule" include both sense and anti-sense strands, cDNA, genomic DNA, recombinant DNA, RNA, and wholly or partially synthesized nucleic acid molecules. A nucleotide "variant" is a sequence that differs from the recited nucleotide sequence in having one or more nucleotide deletions, substitutions or additions. Such modifications can be readily introduced using standard mutagenesis techniques, such as oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis as taught, for example, by Adelman et al. (DNA 2:183, 1983).

[0050] Nucleotide variants can be naturally occurring allelic variants, or non-naturally occurring variants. Variant nucleotide sequences preferably exhibit at least about 70%, more preferably at least about 80% and most preferably at least about 90% homology to the recited sequence. Such variant nucleotide sequences will generally hybridize to the recited nucleotide sequence under stringent conditions. In one embodiment, "stringent conditions" refers to prewashing in a solution of 6.times.SSC, 0.2% SDS; hybridizing at 65.degree. Celsius, 6.times.SSC, 0.2% SDS overnight; followed by two washes of 30 minutes each in 1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C. and two washes of 30 minutes each in 0.2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C.

[0051] The present invention also encompasses isolated nucleic acid sequences that encode TB polypeptides, and in particular, those which encode a polypeptide molecule having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combinations thereof. These TB nucleic acid sequences encode polypeptides that stimulate a protective immunogenic response to the M. tuberculosis bacteria and/or are involved the functions further described herein.

[0052] As used herein, an "isolated" gene or nucleotide sequence which is not flanked by nucleotide sequences which normally (e.g., in nature) flank the gene or nucleotide sequence (e.g., as in genomic sequences) and/or has been completely or partially purified from other transcribed sequences (e.g., as in a cDNA or RNA library). Thus, an isolated gene or nucleotide sequence can include a gene or nucleotide sequence which is synthesized chemically or by recombinant means. Nucleic acid constructs contained in a vector are included in the definition of "isolated" as used herein. Also, isolated nucleotide sequences include recombinant nucleic acid molecules and heterologous host cells, as well as partially or substantially or purified nucleic acid molecules in solution. In vivo and in vitro RNA transcripts of the present invention are also encompassed by "isolated" nucleotide sequences. Such isolated nucleotide sequences are useful for the manufacture of the encoded antigenic TB polypeptide, as probes for isolating homologues sequences (e.g., from other mammalian species or other organisms), for gene mapping (e.g., by in situ hybridization), or for detecting the presence (e.g., by Southern blot analysis) or expression (e.g., by Northern blot analysis) of related genes in cells or tissue.

[0053] The antigenic TB nucleic acid sequences of the present invention include homologues nucleic acid sequences. "Analogous" or "homologous" nucleic acid sequences refer to nucleic acid sequences with sufficient identity of any one of the TB nucleic acid sequences, such that once encoded into polypeptides, they possess the biological activity of any one of the antigenic TB polypeptides described herein. For example, an analogous nucleic acid molecule can be produced with "silent" changes in the sequence wherein one, or more, nucleotides differ from the nucleotides of any one of the TB polypeptides described herein, yet, once encoded into a polypeptide, still possesses its function or biological activity. Examples of such differences include additions, deletions or substitutions. Also encompassed by the present invention are nucleic acid sequences that encode analogous polypeptides that exhibit greater, or lesser, biological activity of the TB proteins of the present invention. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules having at least about 70% (e.g., 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%) identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof.

[0054] The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, including the full length sequences, the partial sequences, functional fragments and homologues, once encoded into polypeptides, elicit an specific immunogenic TB response, or has the function of the polypeptide, as further described herein. The homologous nucleic acid sequences can be determined using methods known to those of skill in the art, and by methods described herein including those described for determining homologous polypeptide sequences. Immunogenic antigens can then be sequenced using techniques such as Edman chemistry. See Edman and Berg, Eur. J. Biochem. 80:116-132, 1967.

[0055] Also encompassed by the present invention are nucleic acid sequences, DNA or RNA, which are substantially complementary to the DNA sequences encoding the antigenic TB polypeptides of the present invention, and which specifically hybridize with their DNA sequences under conditions of stringency known to those of skill in the art. As defined herein, substantially complementary means that the nucleic acid need not reflect the exact sequence of the TB sequences, but must be sufficiently similar in sequence to permit hybridization with TB nucleic acid sequence under high stringency conditions. For example, non-complementary bases can be interspersed in a nucleotide sequence, or the sequences can be longer or shorter than the TB nucleic acid sequence, provided that the sequence has a sufficient number of bases complementary to the TB sequence to allow hybridization therewith. Conditions for stringency are described in e.g., Ausubel, F. M., et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (Current Protocol, 1994), and Brown, et al., Nature, 366:575 (1993); and further defined in conjunction with certain assays.

[0056] Also encompassed by the present invention are nucleic acid sequences, genomic DNA, cDNA, RNA or a combination thereof, which are substantially complementary to the DNA sequences of the present invention and which specifically hybridize with the antigenic TB nucleic acid sequences under conditions of sufficient stringency (e.g., high stringency) to identify DNA sequences with substantial nucleic acid identity.

[0057] The present invention also includes portions and other variants of M. tuberculosis antigens that are generated by synthetic or recombinant means. Synthetic polypeptides having fewer than about 100 amino acids, and generally fewer than about 50 amino acids, can be generated using techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, such polypeptides can be synthesized using any of the commercially available solid-phase techniques, such as the Merrifield solid-phase synthesis method, where amino acids are sequentially added to a growing amino acid chain. See Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2146, 1963. Equipment for automated synthesis of polypeptides is commercially available from suppliers such as Applied BioSystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif., and can be operated according to the manufacturer's instructions. Variants of a native antigen can generally be prepared using standard mutagenesis techniques, such as oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis. Sections of the DNA sequence can also be removed using standard techniques to permit preparation of truncated polypeptides.

[0058] In another embodiment, the present invention includes nucleic acid molecules (e.g., probes or primers) that hybridize to the TB sequences, SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof under high or moderate stringency conditions. In one aspect, the present invention includes molecules that are or hybridize to at least about 20 contiguous nucleotides or longer in length (e.g., 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, or 4000). Such molecules hybridize to one of the TB nucleic acid sequences under high stringency conditions. The present invention includes such molecules and those that encode a polypeptide that has the functions or biological activity described herein.

[0059] Typically the nucleic acid probe comprises a nucleic acid sequence (e.g. SEQ ID

[0060] NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof) and is of sufficient length and complementarity to specifically hybridize to a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a TB antigenic polypeptide. For example, a nucleic acid probe can be at least about 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% the length of the TB nucleic acid sequence. The requirements of sufficient length and complementarity can be easily determined by one of skill in the art. Suitable hybridization conditions (e.g., high stringency conditions) are also described herein. Additionally, the present invention encompasses fragments of the polypeptides of the present invention or nucleic acid sequences that encodes a polypeptide wherein the polypeptide has the biologically activity of the TB polypeptides recited herein.

[0061] Such fragments are useful as probes for assays described herein, and as experimental tools, or in the case of nucleic acid fragments, as primers. A preferred embodiment includes primers and probes which selectively hybridize to the nucleic acid constructs encoding any one of the recited TB polypeptides. For example, nucleic acid fragments which encode any one of the domains described herein are also implicated by the present invention.

[0062] Stringency conditions for hybridization refers to conditions of temperature and buffer composition which permit hybridization of a first nucleic acid sequence to a second nucleic acid sequence, wherein the conditions determine the degree of identity between those sequences which hybridize to each other. Therefore, "high stringency conditions" are those conditions wherein only nucleic acid sequences which are very similar to each other will hybridize. The sequences can be less similar to each other if they hybridize under moderate stringency conditions. Still less similarity is needed for two sequences to hybridize under low stringency conditions. By varying the hybridization conditions from a stringency level at which no hybridization occurs, to a level at which hybridization is first observed, conditions can be determined at which a given sequence will hybridize to those sequences that are most similar to it. The precise conditions determining the stringency of a particular hybridization include not only the ionic strength, temperature, and the concentration of destabilizing agents such as formamide, but also factors such as the length of the nucleic acid sequences, their base composition, the percent of mismatched base pairs between the two sequences, and the frequency of occurrence of subsets of the sequences (e.g., small stretches of repeats) within other non-identical sequences. Washing is the step in which conditions are set so as to determine a minimum level of similarity between the sequences hybridizing with each other. Generally, from the lowest temperature at which only homologous hybridization occurs, a 1% mismatch between two sequences results in a 1.degree. C. decrease in the melting temperature (T.sub.m) for any chosen SSC concentration. Generally, a doubling of the concentration of SSC results in an increase in the T.sub.m of about 17.degree. C. Using these guidelines, the washing temperature can be determined empirically, depending on the level of mismatch sought. Hybridization and wash conditions are explained in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel, F. M. et al., eds., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995, with supplemental updates) on pages 2.10.1 to 2.10.16, and 6.3.1 to 6.3.6.

[0063] High stringency conditions can employ hybridization at either (1) 1.times.SSC (10.times.SSC=3 M NaCl, 0.3 M Na.sub.3-citrate . . . 2H.sub.2O (88 g/liter), pH to 7.0 with 1 M HCl), 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C., (2) 1.times.SSC, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42.degree. C., (3) 1% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na.sub.2 . . . EDTA, 0.5 M NaHPO.sub.4 (pH 7.2) (1 M NaHPO.sub.4=134 g Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4 . . . 7H.sub.2O, 4 ml 85% H.sub.3PO.sub.4 per liter), 7% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C., (4) 50% formamide, 5.times.SSC, 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 1.times. Denhardt's solution (100X=10 g Ficoll 400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g bovine serum albumin (fraction V), water to 500 ml), 10% dextran sulfate, 1% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42.degree. C., (5) 5.times.SSC, 5.times. Denhardt's solution, 1% SDS, 100 .mu.g/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C., or (6) 5.times.SSC, 5.times. Denhardt's solution, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 100 .mu.g/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42.degree. C., with high stringency washes of either (1) 0.3-0.1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C., or (2) 1 mM Na.sub.2EDTA, 40 mM NaHPO.sub.4 (pH 7.2), 1% SDS at 65.degree. C. The above conditions are intended to be used for DNA-DNA hybrids of 50 base pairs or longer. Where the hybrid is believed to be less than 18 base pairs in length, the hybridization and wash temperatures should be 5-10.degree. C. below that of the calculated T.sub.m of the hybrid, where T.sub.m in .degree. C.=(2.times. the number of A and T bases)+(4.times. the number of G and C bases). For hybrids believed to be about 18 to about 49 base pairs in length, the T.sub.m in .degree. C.=(81.5.degree. C.+16.6(log.sub.10M)+0.41(% G+C)-0.61 (% formamide)-500/L), where "M" is the molarity of monovalent cations (e.g., Na.sup.+), and "L" is the length of the hybrid in base pairs.

[0064] Moderate stringency conditions can employ hybridization at either (1) 4.times.SSC, (10.times.SSC=3 M NaCl, 0.3 M Na.sub.3-citrate . . . 2H.sub.2O (88 g/liter), pH to 7.0 with 1 M HCl), 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C., (2) 4.times.SSC, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42.degree. C., (3) 1% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na.sub.2 . . . EDTA, 0.5 M NaHPO.sub.4 (pH 7.2) (1 M NaHPO.sub.4=134 g Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4. . . 7H.sub.2O, 4 ml 85% H.sub.3PO.sub.4 per liter), 7% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C., (4) 50% formamide, 5.times.SSC, 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 1.times. Denhardt's solution (100.times.=10 g Ficoll 400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g bovine serum albumin (fraction V), water to 500 ml), 10% dextran sulfate, 1% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42.degree. C., (5) 5.times.SSC, 5.times. Denhardt's solution, 1% SDS, 100 .mu.g/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C., or (6) 5.times.SSC, 5.times. Denhardt's solution, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 100 .mu.g/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 42.degree. C., with moderate stringency washes of 1.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65.degree. C. The above conditions are intended to be used for DNA-DNA hybrids of 50 base pairs or longer. Where the hybrid is believed to be less than 18 base pairs in length, the hybridization and wash temperatures should be 5-10.degree. C. below that of the calculated T.sub.m of the hybrid, where T.sub.m in .degree. C.=(2.times. the number of A and T bases)+(4.times. the number of G and C bases). For hybrids believed to be about 18 to about 49 base pairs in length, the T.sub.m in .degree. C.=(81.5.degree. C.+16.6(log.sub.10M)+0.41(% G+C)-0.61 (% formamide)-500/L), where "M" is the molarity of monovalent cations (e.g., Na+), and "L" is the length of the hybrid in base pairs.

[0065] Low stringency conditions can employ hybridization at either (1) 4.times.SSC, (10.times.SSC=3 M NaCl, 0.3 M Na.sub.3-citrate . . . 2H.sub.2O (88 g/liter), pH to 7.0 with 1 M HCl), 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 50.degree. C., (2) 6.times.SSC, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 40.degree. C., (3) 1% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na.sub.2 . . . EDTA, 0.5 M NaHPO.sub.4 (pH 7.2) (1 M NaHPO.sub.4=134 g Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4 . . . 7H.sub.2O, 4 ml 85% H.sub.3PO.sub.4 per liter), 7% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 50.degree. C., (4) 50% formamide, 5.times.SSC, 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 1.times. Denhardt's solution (100.times.=10 g Ficoll 400, 10 g polyvinylpyrrolidone, 10 g bovine serum albumin (fraction V), water to 500 ml), 10% dextran sulfate, 1% SDS, 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 40.degree. C., (5) 5.times.SSC, 5.times. Denhardt's solution, 1% SDS, 100 .mu.g/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 50.degree. C., or (6) 5.times.SSC, 5.times. Denhardt's solution, 50% formamide, 1% SDS, 100 .mu.g/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 40.degree. C., with low stringency washes of either 2.times.SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50.degree. C., or (2) 0.5% bovine serum albumin (fraction V), 1 mM Na.sub.2EDTA, 40 mM NaHPO.sub.4 (pH 7.2), 5% SDS. The above conditions are intended to be used for DNA-DNA hybrids of 50 base pairs or longer. Where the hybrid is believed to be less than 18 base pairs in length, the hybridization and wash temperatures should be 5-10.degree. C. below that of the calculated T.sub.m of the hybrid, where T.sub.m in .degree. C.=(2.times. the number of A and T bases)+(4.times. the number of G and C bases). For hybrids believed to be about 18 to about 49 base pairs in length, the T.sub.m in .degree. C.=(81.5.degree. C.+16.6(log.sub.10M)+0.41(% G+C)-0.61 (% formamide)-500/L), where "M" is the molarity of monovalent cations (e.g., Na.+), and "L" is the length of the hybrid in base pairs.

[0066] The TB nucleic acid sequences of the present invention, or a fragment thereof, can also be used to isolate additional homologs. For example, a cDNA or genomic DNA library from the appropriate organism can be screened with labeled TB nucleic acid sequence to identify homologous genes as described in e.g., Ausebel, et al., Eds., Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1997).

[0067] Immunogenic antigens can be produced recombinantly using a DNA sequence that encodes the antigen, which has been inserted into an expression vector and expressed in an appropriate host cell. DNA sequences encoding M. tuberculosis antigens can, for example, be identified by screening an appropriate M. tuberculosis genomic or cDNA expression library with sera obtained from patients infected with M. tuberculosis. Such screens can generally be performed using techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as those described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989. Degenerate oligonucleotide sequences for use in such a screen can be designed and synthesized, and the screen can be performed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can also be employed, using the above oligonucleotides in methods well known in the art, to isolate a nucleic acid probe from a cDNA or genomic library. The library screen can then be performed using the isolated probe. The present method can optionally include a labeled TB antigenic probe.

[0068] Alternatively, genomic or cDNA libraries derived from M. tuberculosis can be screened directly using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or T cell lines or clones derived from one or more M. tuberculosis-immune individuals. In general, PBMCs and/or T cells for use in such screens can be prepared as described below. Direct library screens can generally be performed by assaying pools of expressed recombinant proteins for the ability to induce proliferation and/or interferon-.gamma. production in T cells derived from an M. tuberculosis-immune individual.

[0069] The invention also provides vectors, plasmids or viruses containing one or more of the TB nucleic acid molecules (e.g., having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof). Suitable vectors for use in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are known in the art and are commercially available or readily prepared by a skilled artisan. Additional vectors can also be found, for example, in Ausubel, F. M., et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (Current Protocol, 1994) and Sambrook et al., "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual," 2nd ED. (1989).

[0070] Recombinant polypeptides containing portions and/or variants of a native antigen can be readily prepared from a DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide using a variety of techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, supernatants from suitable host/vector systems which secrete recombinant protein into culture media can be first concentrated using a commercially available filter. Following concentration, the concentrate can be applied to a suitable purification matrix such as an affinity matrix or an ion exchange resin. Finally, one or more reverse phase HPLC steps can be employed to further purify a recombinant protein.

[0071] Any of a variety of expression vectors known to those of ordinary skill in the art can be employed to express recombinant polypeptides of this invention. Expression can be achieved in any appropriate host cell that has been transformed or transfected with an expression vector containing a DNA molecule that encodes a recombinant polypeptide. Suitable host cells include prokaryotes, yeast and higher eukaryotic cells. Preferably, the host cells employed are E. coli, yeast or a mammalian cell line such as COS or CHO. The DNA sequences expressed in this manner can encode naturally occurring antigens, portions of naturally occurring antigens, or other variants thereof.

[0072] Uses of plasmids, vectors or viruses containing the cloned TB receptors or receptor fragments include one or more of the following; (1) generation of hybridization probes for detection and measuring level of TB in tissue or isolation of TB homologs; (2) generation of TB mRNA or protein in vitro or in vivo; and (3) generation of transgenic non-human animals or recombinant host cells.

[0073] In one embodiment, the present invention encompasses host cells transformed with the plasmids, vectors or viruses described above. Nucleic acid molecules can be inserted into a construct which can, optionally, replicate and/or integrate into a recombinant host cell, by known methods. The host cell can be a eukaryote or prokaryote and includes, for example, yeast (such as Pichia pastorius or Saccharomyces cerevisiae), bacteria (such as E. coli, M. tuberculosis, or Bacillus subtilis), animal cells or tissue, insect Sf9 cells (such as baculoviruses infected SF9 cells) or mammalian cells (somatic or embryonic cells, Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, HeLa cells, human 293 cells and monkey COS-7 cells). Host cells suitable in the present invention also include a mammalian cell, a bacterial cell, a yeast cell, an insect cell, and a plant cell.

[0074] The nucleic acid molecule can be incorporated or inserted into the host cell by known methods. Examples of suitable methods of transfecting or transforming cells include calcium phosphate precipitation, electroporation, microinjection, infection, lipofection and direct uptake. "Transformation" or "transfection" as used herein refers to the acquisition of new or altered genetic features by incorporation of additional nucleic acids, e.g., DNA. "Expression" of the genetic information of a host cell is a term of art which refers to the directed transcription of DNA to generate RNA which is translated into a polypeptide. Methods for preparing such recombinant host cells and incorporating nucleic acids are described in more detail in Sambrook et al., "Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual," Second Edition (1989) and Ausubel, et al. "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology," (1992), for example.

[0075] The host cell is then maintained under suitable conditions for expression and recovery of the antigenic TB polypeptide of the present invention. Generally, the cells are maintained in a suitable buffer and/or growth medium or nutrient source for growth of the cells and expression of the gene product(s). The growth media are not critical to the invention, are generally known in the art and include sources of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Examples include Luria broth, Superbroth, Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Media (DMEM), RPMI-1640, M199 and Grace's insect media. The growth media can contain a buffer, the selection of which is not critical to the invention. The pH of the buffered media can be selected and is generally one tolerated by or optimal for growth for the host cell.

[0076] The host cell is maintained under a suitable temperature and atmosphere. Alternatively, the host cell is aerobic and the host cell is maintained under atmospheric conditions or other suitable conditions for growth. The temperature should also be selected so that the host cell tolerates the process and can be for example, between about 13-40 degree Celsius.

Antibodies and Methods of Assessment

[0077] Method for assessing the presence or absence of the antigenic TB polypeptides described herein, in a sample, are encompassed by the present invention. Suitable assays include immunological methods, such as radioimmunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), chemiluminescence assays, and rapid immunochromatographic assays. Any method known now or developed later can be used for measuring antigenic TB polypeptides.

[0078] Antibodies reactive with any one of the antigenic TB polypeptides, namely, SEQ ID Nos: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof, or portions thereof can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies specifically bind with antigenic TB polypeptides or a portion thereof. The antibodies can be polyclonal or monoclonal, and the term antibody is intended to encompass polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and functional fragments thereof. The terms polyclonal and monoclonal refer to the degree of homogeneity of an antibody preparation, and are not intended to be limited to particular methods of production.

[0079] In several of the preferred embodiments, immunological techniques detect the presence, absence of levels of antigenic TB polypeptides described herein by means of an anti-TB antibody (i.e., one or more antibodies). The term "anti-TB antibody" includes monoclonal and/or polyclonal antibodies, and mixtures or cocktails thereof, and refers to antibodies specific to polypeptides having a sequence set forth in SEQ ID Nos: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof, or portions thereof.

[0080] Anti-TB antibodies can be raised against appropriate immunogens, such as isolated and/or recombinant antigenic TB polypeptides described herein, analogs or portion thereof (including synthetic molecules, such as synthetic peptides). In one embodiment, antibodies are raised against an isolated and/or recombinant antigenic TB polypeptides described herein or portion thereof (e.g., a peptide) or against a host cell which expresses recombinant antigenic TB polypeptides. In addition, cells expressing recombinant antigenic TB polypeptides described herein, such as transfected cells, can be used as immunogens or in a screen for antibody which binds receptor.

[0081] Any suitable technique can prepare the immunizing antigen and produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. The art contains a variety of these methods (see e.g., Kohler et al., Nature, 256: 495-497 (1975) and Eur. J. Immunol. 6: 511-519 (1976); Milstein et al., Nature 266: 550-552 (1977); Koprowski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,124; Harlow, E. and D. Lane, 1988, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.); Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, Vol. 2 (Supplement 27, Summer `94), Ausubel, F. M. et al., Eds., (John Wiley & Sons: New York, N.Y.), Chapter 11, (1991)). Generally, fusing a suitable immortal or myeloma cell line, such as SP2/0, with antibody producing cells can produce a hybridoma. Animals immunized with the antigen of interest provide the antibody producing cell, preferably cells from the spleen or lymph nodes. Selective culture conditions isolate antibody producing hybridoma cells while limiting dilution techniques produce them. Researchers can use suitable assays such as ELISA to select antibody producing cells with the desired specificity.

[0082] Other suitable methods can produce or isolate antibodies of the requisite specificity. Examples of other methods include selecting recombinant antibody from a library or relying upon immunization of transgenic animals such as mice.

[0083] The present invention includes assays to determine if a person is infected with active TB, as compared with person who does not have active TB (e.g., has latent TB, no TB infection, or has been immunized against TB infection). Latent TB occurs when a person has been infected with M. tuberculosis, but the bacteria is dormant or inactive. Active TB infection refers to a person infected with M. tuberculosis and the bacteria is acutely affecting portions of the bodying, including the lungs, and other tissues. The present invention, based on the discovery that certain TB antigens are found in the urine of patients with active TB, includes assays for determining the absence or presence of active TB infection.

[0084] According to the method, an assay can determine the presence, absence or level of antigenic TB polypeptides in a biological sample. Such an assay includes combining the sample to be tested with an antibody having specificity for antigenic TB polypeptides described herein, under conditions suitable for formation of a complex between antibody and antigenic TB polypeptides, and detecting or measuring (directly or indirectly) the formation of a complex. The sample can be obtained directly or indirectly (e.g., provided by a healthcare provider), and can be prepared by a method suitable for the particular sample (e.g., urine, sputum, cerebral spinal fluid, whole blood, platelet rich plasma, platelet poor plasma, serum) and assay format selected. Methods of combining sample and antibody, and methods of detecting complex formation are also selected to be compatible with the assay format.

[0085] Suitable labels can be detected directly, such as radioactive, fluorescent or chemiluminescent labels. They can also be indirectly detected using labels such as enzyme labels and other antigenic or specific binding partners like biotin. Examples of such labels include fluorescent labels such as fluorescein, rhodamine, chemiluminescent labels such as luciferase, radioisotope labels such as .sup.32P, .sup.125I, .sup.131I, enzyme labels such as horseradish peroxidase, and alkaline phosphatase, galactosidase, biotin, avidin, spin labels and the like. The detection of antibodies in a complex can also be done immunologically with a second antibody, which is then detected (e.g., by means of a label). Conventional methods or other suitable methods can directly or indirectly label an antibody. Labeled primary and secondary antibodies can be obtained commercially or prepared using methods know to one of skill in the art (see Harlow, E. and D. Lane, 1988, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the presence, absence, or level of antigenic TB polypeptides in a sample is determined using an ELISA assay, a sandwich ELISA assay, or immunochromatographic assay. For detection of antigenic TB polypeptides in a suitable sample, a sample (e.g., urine) is collected. Samples can be processed as known in the art. The assay further includes combining a suitable sample with a composition having an anti-TB polypeptide antibody as detector (e.g., biotinylated anti-TB polypeptides MAb and HRP-streptavidin, or HRP-conjugated anti-TB polypeptides Mab), and a solid support, such as a microtiter plate or dipstick, having an anti-TB polypeptide capture antibody bound (directly or indirectly) thereto. The detector antibody binds to a different antigenic TB polypeptide epitope from that recognized by the capture antibody, under conditions suitable for the formation of the complex. The assay then involves determining the formation of complex in the samples. The presence of one or more of the antigenic TB polypeptide in a sample of an individual indicates the presence of active TB infection, whereas the absence of a TB polypeptide indicates that the patient does not have active TB infection.

[0087] The solid support, such as a microtiter plate, dipstick, bead, pad, strip, or other suitable support, can be coated directly or indirectly with an anti-TB polypeptide antibody or TB specific antigen. For example, an anti-TB polypeptide antibody can coat a microtiter well, or a biotinylated anti-TB polypeptide Mab can be added to a streptavidin coated support. With respect to a immunochromatographic assay, a pad or strip can be coated with an antibody specific for the antigen, and when a sample having the one or more of antigens described herein comes into contact with the antibody, the complex can turn a color with aid of a detector, as further described herein. See FIG. 4. A variety of immobilizing or coating methods as well as a number of solid supports can be used, and can be selected according to the desired format.

[0088] In one immunochromatographic assay, a sample having the TB antigens of the present invention can be added to the pad like that shown in FIG. 4. The sample diffuses across a gold labeled antibody (mAb#1) that is specific to a portion of the antigen, and a complex between the antigen in the sample and the antibody is formed. As the complex further diffuses across the pad having a second antibody (mAb #2), the antibody binds to a different portion of the antigen. When it hits the line labeled "line 1", the labeled complex turns a color, and the control line ("line 2") will also change color. If the sample does not contain the TB antigens of the present invention, then line 1 will not turn color because the gold-labeled antibody will not bind to the sample and therefore will not come into contact with line 1.

[0089] In another embodiment, the sample (or an antigenic TB polypeptide standard) is combined with the solid support simultaneously with the detector antibody, and optionally with a one or more reagents by which detection is monitored. For example, the sample can be combined with the solid support simultaneously with (a) HRP-conjugated anti-TB polypeptide Mab, or (b) a biotinylated anti-TB polypeptide Mab and HRP-streptavidin.

[0090] A known amount of an antigenic TB polypeptide standard can be prepared and processed as described above for a suitable sample. This antigenic TB polypeptide standard assists in quantifying the amount of antigenic TB polypeptides detected by comparing the level of antigenic TB polypeptides in the sample relative to that in the standard.

[0091] A physician, technician, apparatus or a qualified person can compare the amount of detected complex with a suitable control to determine if the levels are elevated. For example, the level of antigenic TB polypeptides following treatment can be compared with a baseline level prior to treatment, or with levels in normal individuals or suitable controls. A decrease in or maintenance of the levels of one or more TB polypeptides in the urine, as compared to baseline levels, indicates that the treatment is working, whereas increases in levels indicates that is not effective.

[0092] Typical assays for antigenic TB polypeptides are sequential assays in which a plate is coated with first antibody, sample is added, the plate is washed, second tagged antibody is added, and the plate is washed and bound second antibody is quantified. In another embodiment, a format in which antibodies and the sample are added simultaneously, in a competitive ELISA format, can achieve greater sensitivity.

[0093] A variety of methods can determine the amount of antigenic TB polypeptides in complexes. For example, when HRP is used as a label, a suitable substrate such as OPD can be added to produce color intensity directly proportional to the bound anti-TB polypeptides Mab (assessed e.g., by optical density), and therefore to the antigenic TB polypeptides in the sample.

[0094] A technician, physician, qualified person or apparatus can compare the results to a suitable control such as a standard, or baseline levels of antigenic TB polypeptides in a sample from the same donor. For example, the assay can be performed using a known amount of antigenic TB polypeptides standard in lieu of a sample, and a standard curved established. One can relatively compare known amounts of the antigenic TB polypeptides standard to the amount of complex formed or detected.

[0095] The nucleic acid that encodes the antigenic TB polypeptides can also be assayed by hybridization, e.g., by hybridizing one of the TB sequences provided herein (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof) or an oligonucleotide derived from one of the sequences, to a DNA or RNA-containing tissue sample from a person. Such a hybridization sequence can have a detectable label, e.g., radioactive, fluorescent, etc., attached to allow the detection of hybridization product. Such methods include contacting the sample with one or more oligonucleotide probes (e.g., at least about 15 contiguous bases) specific for the nucleic acid molecule described herein under high stringency conditions, sufficiently to allow hybridization between the sample and the probe; and detecting the nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to the oligonucleotide probe in the sample. The presence of hybridization of the probe indicates M. tuberculosis infection, and the absence of hybridization indicates an absence of M tuberculosis infection. Methods for hybridization are well known, and such methods are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,490, by Jacobs et al., the entire teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. The design of the oligonucleotide probe should preferably follow these parameters: (a) it should be designed to an area of the sequence which has the fewest ambiguous bases ("N's"), if any, and (b) it should be designed to have a T.sub.m of approx. 80.degree. Celsius (assuming 2.degree. Celsius for each A or T and 4.degree. Cfor each G or C).

[0096] The present invention encompasses detection of TB polypeptides of the present invention in a sample using with PCR methods using primers disclosed or derived from sequences described herein. For example, the sequences described herein can be detected by PCR using SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combinations thereof. PCR is the selective amplification of a target sequence by repeated rounds of nucleic acid replication utilizing sequence-specific primers and a thermostable polymerase. PCR allows recovery of entire sequences between two ends of known sequence. Specifically, contacting the sample with at least two oligonucleotide primers in a PCR, wherein at least one of the oligonucleotide primers (e.g., at least about 10 contiguous bases) is specific for one or more of the isolated nucleic acid molecules described herein. The two are contacted sufficiently to allow amplification of the primers. The amplified nucleic acid sequence in the sample is detected. The presence any one of the amplified nucleic acid sequences indicate M. tuberculosis infection, and the absence of any one of the amplified nucleic acid sequences indicate an absence of M. tuberculosis infection. Methods of PCR are described herein and are known in the art.

[0097] Hence, the present invention includes kits for the detection of SEQ ID Nos:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combinations thereof, or the quantification of these sequences, having either antibodies specific for them or a portion thereof, or a nucleic acid sequence that can hybridize to the nucleic acid of encoding these sequences.

[0098] Additional immunological or nucleic acid assessments can be performed using methods known in the art. Assays, known in the art or those later developed can be used to assess the antigenic TB polypeptides in a sample.

[0099] In addition to measuring the presence of antigenic TB polypeptides in a sample, assays exist to determine the efficacy of a TB vaccine (e.g., the extent to which the immune response is stimulated). These types of assays can be used together to fully assess a person's TB status. For examples, an individual who has a TB-specific immunogenic response, but tests negative to the presence of one or more the antigenic TB polypeptides in a sample, is one who has a level of immunity to the disease. However, a person who has a TB-specific immunogenic response and tests positive to the presence of the antigenic TB polypeptides of the present invention is someone who likely has TB.

[0100] The efficacy of a TB vaccine can be measured by determining the immunogenic response of the person who received the vaccine. The TB antigens of the present invention (and immunogenic portions thereof) described herein have the ability to induce an immunogenic response. More specifically, the antigens have the ability to induce proliferation and/or cytokine production (i.e., interferon-.gamma. and/or interleukin-12 production) in T cells, NK cells, B cells and/or macrophages derived from an M. tuberculosis-immune individual. See Example 3.

[0101] The selection of cell type for use in evaluating an immunogenic response to a antigen will, of course, depend on the desired response. For example, interleukin-12 production is most readily evaluated using preparations containing B-cells and/or macrophages. An M. tuberculosis-immune individual is one who is considered to be resistant to the development of tuberculosis by virtue of having mounted an effective T cell response to M. tuberculosis (i.e., substantially free of disease symptoms). Such individuals can be identified based on a strongly positive (i.e., greater than about 10 mm diameter induration) intradermal skin test response to tuberculosis proteins using a Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) and an absence of any signs or symptoms of tuberculosis disease. T cells, NK cells, B cells and macrophages derived from M. tuberculosis-immune individuals can be prepared using methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a preparation of PBMCs (i.e., peripheral blood mononuclear cells) can be employed without further separation of component cells. PBMCs can generally be prepared, for example, using density centrifugation through Ficoll (Winthrop Laboratories, NY). T cells for use in the assays described herein can also be purified directly from PBMCs. Alternatively, an enriched T cell line reactive against mycobacterial proteins, or T cell clones reactive to individual mycobacterial proteins, can be employed. Such T cell clones can be generated by, for example, culturing PBMCs from M. tuberculosis-immune individuals with mycobacterial proteins for a period of 2-4 weeks. This allows expansion of only the mycobacterial protein-specific T cells, resulting in a line composed solely of such cells. These cells can then be cloned and tested with individual proteins, using methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art, to more accurately define individual T cell specificity. In general, antigens that test positive in assays for proliferation and/or cytokine production (i.e., interferon-.gamma. and/or interleukin-12 production) performed using T cells, NK cells, B cells and/or macrophages derived from an M. tuberculosis-immune individual are considered immunogenic. Such assays can be performed, for example, using the representative procedures described below. Immunogenic portions of such antigens can be identified using similar assays, and can be present within the polypeptides described herein.

[0102] The ability of a polypeptide (e.g., an immunogenic antigen, or a portion or other variant thereof) to induce cell proliferation can be evaluated by contacting the cells (e.g., T cells and/or NK cells) with the polypeptide and measuring the proliferation of the cells. In general, the amount of polypeptide that is sufficient for evaluation of about 10.sup.5 cells ranges from about 10 ng/mL to about 100 .mu.g/mL and preferably is about 10 .mu.g/mL. The incubation of polypeptide with cells is typically performed at 37.degree. C. for about six days. Following incubation with polypeptide, the cells are assayed for a proliferative response, which can be evaluated by methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as exposing cells to a pulse of radiolabeled thymidine and measuring the incorporation of label into cellular DNA. In general, a polypeptide that results in at least a three fold increase in proliferation above background (i.e., the proliferation observed for cells cultured without polypeptide) is considered to be able to induce proliferation.

[0103] The ability of a polypeptide to stimulate the production of interferon-.gamma. and/or interleukin-12 in cells can be evaluated by contacting the cells with the polypeptide and measuring the level of interferon-.gamma. or interleukin-12 produced by the cells, as demonstrated in Example 3. In general, the amount of polypeptide that is sufficient for the evaluation of about 10.sup.5 cells ranges from about 10 ng/mL to about 100 .mu.g/mL and preferably is about 10 .mu.g/mL. The polypeptide can, but need not, be immobilized on a solid support, such as a bead or a biodegradable microsphere, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,268 and 5,075,109. The incubation of polypeptide with the cells is typically performed at 37.degree. C. or about six days. Following incubation with polypeptide, the cells are assayed for interferon-.gamma. and/or interleukin-12 (or one or more subunits thereof), which can be evaluated by methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or, in the case of IL-12 P70 subunit, a bioassay such as an assay measuring proliferation of T cells. In general, a polypeptide that results in the production of at least 50 pg of interferon-.gamma. per mL of cultured supernatant (containing 10.sup.4-10.sup.5 T cells per mL) is considered able to stimulate the production of interferon-.gamma.. A polypeptide that stimulates the production of at least 10 pg/mL of IL-12 P70 subunit, and/or at least 100 pg/mL of IL-12 P40 subunit, per 10.sup.5 macrophages or B cells (or per 3X10.sup.5 PBMC) is considered able to stimulate the production of IL-12.

[0104] In general, immunogenic antigens are those antigens that stimulate proliferation and/or cytokine production (i.e., interferon-.gamma. and/or interleukin-12 production) in T cells, NK cells, B cells and/or macrophages derived from at least about 25% of M. tuberculosis-immune individuals. Among these immunogenic antigens, polypeptides having superior therapeutic properties can be distinguished based on the magnitude of the responses in the above assays and based on the percentage of individuals for which a response is observed. In addition, antigens having superior therapeutic properties will not stimulate proliferation and/or cytokine production in vitro in cells derived from more than about 25% of individuals who are not M. tuberculosis-immune, thereby eliminating responses that are not specifically due to M. tuberculosis-responsive cells. Those antigens that induce a response in a high percentage of T cell, NK cell, B cell and/or macrophage preparations from M. tuberculosis-immune individuals (with a low incidence of responses in cell preparations from other individuals) have superior therapeutic properties.

Fusion Proteins, Vaccine Compositions, Mode and Manner of Administration

[0105] The TB polypeptides of the present invention can be in the form of a conjugate or a fusion protein, which can be manufactured by known methods. In particular, 2 or more of the sequences, SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, or 48 can be fused to one another, or with other proteins, to provide a more effective vaccine composition, and stimulate an improved immunogenic response. Other proteins that can be used to make such a fusion protein include TB antigens that simulate the CD4+ T cell pathway of the immune response. Examples of such antigens include Antigen 85b, ESAT-6, MtB41, Mtb39. The TB polypeptides of the present invention were isolated from MHC class 1 molecules, molecules known for presenting antigens to CD8+ T cells. Although it is possible for these polypeptides to be also presented in the CD4+ pathway, fusing a CD4+ T-cell pathway antigen with one of the polypeptides of the present invention can serve to increase effectiveness of the TB vaccine. Fusion proteins can be manufactured according to known methods of recombinant DNA technology. For example, fusion proteins can be expressed from a nucleic acid molecule comprising sequences which code for a biologically active portion of the TB polypeptides or the entire TB polypeptides set forth in SEQ ID Nos:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or combinations thereof, and its fusion partner, for example another sequence of the present invention, a portion of an immunoglobulin molecule, or another TB antigen from the CD4+ T cell pathway. For example, some embodiments can be produced by the intersection of a nucleic acid encoding immunoglobulin sequences into a suitable expression vector, phage vector, or other commercially available vectors. The resulting construct can be introduced into a suitable host cell for expression. Upon expression, the fusion proteins can be isolated or purified from a cell by means of an affinity matrix. By measurement of the alternations in the functions of transfected cells occurring as a result of expression of recombinant TB proteins, either the cells themselves or TB proteins produced from the cells can be utilized in a variety of screening assays.

[0106] As noted above, in certain aspects the inventive compositions comprise fusion proteins or DNA fusion molecules. Each fusion protein comprises a first and a second inventive polypeptide or, alternatively, a polypeptide of the present invention and a known M. tuberculosis antigen, together with variants of such fusion proteins. The fusion proteins of the present invention can also include a linker peptide between the first and second polypeptides. The DNA fusion molecules of the present invention comprise a first and a second isolated DNA molecule, each isolated DNA molecule encoding either an inventive M. tuberculosis antigen or a known M. tuberculosis antigen.

[0107] A DNA sequence encoding a fusion protein of the present invention is constructed using known recombinant DNA techniques to assemble separate DNA sequences encoding the first and second polypeptides into an appropriate expression vector, as described in detail below. The 3' end of a DNA sequence encoding the first polypeptide is ligated, with or without a peptide linker, to the 5' end of a DNA sequence encoding the second polypeptide so that the reading frames of the sequences are in phase to permit mRNA translation of the two DNA sequences into a single fusion protein that retains the biological activity of both the first and the second polypeptides.

[0108] A peptide linker sequence can be employed to separate the first and the second polypeptides by a distance sufficient to ensure that each polypeptide folds into its secondary and tertiary structures. Such a peptide linker sequence is incorporated into the fusion protein using standard techniques well known in the art. Suitable peptide linker sequences can be chosen based on the following factors: (1) their ability to adopt a flexible extended conformation; (2) their inability to adopt a secondary structure that could interact with functional epitopes on the first and second polypeptides; and (3) the lack of hydrophobic or charged residues that might react with the polypeptide functional epitopes. Preferred peptide linker sequences contain Gly, Asn and Ser residues. Other near neutral amino acids, such as Thr and Ala can also be used in the linker sequence. Amino acid sequences which can be usefully employed as linkers include those disclosed in Maratea et al., Gene 40:39-46, 1985; Murphy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:8258-8262, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,233 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,180. The linker sequence can be from 1 to about 50 amino acids in length. Peptide sequences are not required when the first and second polypeptides have non-essential N-terminal amino acid regions that can be used to separate the functional domains and prevent steric interference.

[0109] The ligated DNA sequences are operably linked to suitable transcriptional or translational regulatory elements. The regulatory elements responsible for expression of DNA are located only 5' to the DNA sequence encoding the first polypeptides. Similarly, stop codons require to end translation and transcription termination signals are only present 3' to the DNA sequence encoding the second polypeptide.

[0110] Efficacy of a vaccine including the isolated sequences of the present invention can be determined based on the ability of the antigen to provide at least about a 50% (e.g., about a 60%, about a 70%, about a 80%, about a 90%, or about a 100%) reduction in bacterial numbers and/or at least about a 40% (e.g., about a 50%, about a 60%, about a 70%, about a 80%, about a 90%, or about a 100%) decrease in mortality following experimental infection in a challenge experiment. Suitable experimental animals include mice, guinea pigs and primates.

[0111] The compositions of the present invention are preferably formulated as either pharmaceutical compositions or as vaccines for in the induction of protective immunity against tuberculosis in a patient. A patient can be afflicted with a disease, or can be free of detectable disease and/or infection. In other words, protective immunity can be induced to prevent, reduce the severity of, or treat tuberculosis.

[0112] In one embodiment, pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise one or more of the above polypeptides, either present as a mixture or in the form of a fusion protein, and a physiologically acceptable carrier. Similarly, vaccines comprise one or more the above polypeptides and a non-specific immune response enhancer, such as an adjuvant or a liposome (into which the polypeptide is incorporated).

[0113] In another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition and/or vaccine of the present invention can contain one or more of the DNA molecules of the present invention, either present as a mixture or in the form of a DNA fusion molecule, each DNA molecule encoding a polypeptide as described above, such that the polypeptide is generated in situ. In such vaccines, the DNA can be present within any of a variety of delivery systems known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including nucleic acid expression systems, bacterial and viral expression systems. Appropriate nucleic acid expression systems contain the necessary DNA sequences for expression in the patient (such as a suitable promoter and terminating signal). Bacterial delivery systems involve the administration of a bacterium (such as Bacillus-Calmette-Guerrin) that expresses an immunogenic portion of the polypeptide on its cell surface. In a preferred embodiment, the DNA can be introduced using a viral expression system (e.g., vaccinia or other pox virus, retrovirus, or adenovirus), which can involve the use of a non-pathogenic (defective), replication competent virus. Techniques for incorporating DNA into such expression systems are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The DNA can also be "naked," as described, for example, in Ulmer et al., Science 259:1745-1749, 1993 and reviewed by Cohen, Science 259:1691-1692, 1993. The uptake of naked DNA can be increased by coating the DNA onto biodegradable beads, which are efficiently transported into the cells.

[0114] The antigenic TB molecules of the present invention can be administered with or without a carrier. The terms "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" or a "carrier" refer to any generally acceptable excipient or drug delivery composition that is relatively inert and non-toxic. Exemplary carriers include sterile water, salt solutions (such as Ringer's solution), alcohols, gelatin, talc, viscous paraffin, fatty acid esters, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl pyrolidone, calcium carbonate, carbohydrates (such as lactose, sucrose, dextrose, mannose, albumin, starch, cellulose, silica gel, polyethylene glycol (PEG), dried skim milk, rice flour, magnesium stearate, and the like. Suitable formulations and additional carriers are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, (17.sup.th Ed., Mack Pub. Co., Easton, Pa.). Such preparations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, coloring, preservatives and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously react with the active compounds. Typical preservatives can include, potassium sorbate, sodium metabisulfite, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, thimerosal, etc. The compositions can also be combined where desired with other active substances, e.g., enzyme inhibitors, to reduce metabolic degradation. A carrier (e.g., a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier) is preferred, but not necessary to administer the compound.

[0115] The composition can be a liquid solution, suspension, emulsion, tablet, pill, capsule, sustained release formulation, or powder. The method of administration can dictate how the composition will be formulated. For example, the composition can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc.

[0116] The antigenic TB molecules used in the invention can be administered intravenously, parenterally, intramuscular, subcutaneously, orally, nasally, topically, by inhalation, by implant, by injection, or by suppository. The composition can be administered in a single dose or in more than one dose over a period of time to confer the desired effect.

[0117] The actual effective amounts of compound or drug can vary according to the specific composition being utilized, the mode of administration and the age, weight and condition of the patient. For example, as used herein, an effective amount of the drug is an amount which reduces the number of bacteria. Dosages for a particular individual patient can be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art using conventional considerations, (e.g. by means of an appropriate, conventional pharmacological protocol).

[0118] For enteral or mucosal application (including via oral and nasal mucosa), particularly suitable are tablets, liquids, drops, suppositories or capsules. A syrup, elixir or the like can be used wherein a sweetened vehicle is employed. Liposomes, microspheres, and microcapsules are available and can be used.

[0119] Pulmonary administration can be accomplished, for example, using any of various delivery devices known in the art such as an inhaler. See. e.g., S. P. Newman (1984) in Aerosols and the Lung, Clarke and Davis (eds.), Butterworths, London, England, pp. 197-224; PCT Publication No. WO 92/16192; PCT Publication No. WO 91/08760.

[0120] For parenteral application, particularly suitable are injectable, sterile solutions, preferably oily or aqueous solutions, as well as suspensions, emulsions, or implants, including suppositories. In particular, carriers for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of dextrose, saline, pure water, ethanol, glycerol, propylene glycol, peanut oil, sesame oil, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymers, and the like. Ampules are convenient unit dosages.

[0121] Biodegradable microspheres (e.g., polylactic galactide) can also be employed as carriers for the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention. Suitable biodegradable microspheres are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,268 and 5,075,109.

[0122] Any of a variety of adjuvants can be employed in the vaccines of this invention to enhance the immune response. Most adjuvants contain a substance designed to protect the antigen from rapid catabolism, such as aluminum hydroxide or mineral oil, and a nonspecific stimulator of immune responses, such as lipid A, Bortadella pertussis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Suitable adjuvants are commercially available and include, for example, Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant and Freund's Complete Adjuvant /(Difco Laboratories) and Merck Adjuvant 65 (Merck and Company, Inc., Rahway, N.J.). Other suitable adjuvants include alum, biodegradable microspheres, monophosphoryl lipid A and quil A.

[0123] In the inventive vaccines, it is preferred that the adjuvant induces an immune response comprising Thl aspects. Suitable adjuvant systems include, for example, a combination of monophosphoryl lipid A, preferably 3-de-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MLP) together with an aluminum salt. An enhanced system involves the combination of a monophosphoryl lipid A and a saponin derivative, particularly the combination of 3D-MLP and the saponin QS21 as disclosed in WO 94/00153, or a less reactogenic composition where the QS21 is quenched with cholesterol as disclosed in WO 96/33739. Previous experiments have demonstrated a clear synergistic effect of combinations of 3D-MLP and QS21 in the induction of both humoral and Thl type cellular immune responses. A particularly potent adjuvant formation involving QS21, 3D-MLP and tocopherol in an oil-in-water emulsion is described in WO 95/17210 and is a preferred formulation.

[0124] The administration of the antigenic TB polypeptide molecules of the present invention and other compounds can occur simultaneously or sequentially in time. A DNA vaccine and/or pharmaceutical composition as described above can be administered simultaneously with or sequentially to an additional polypeptide of the present invention, a known M. tuberculosis antigen, an immune enhancer, or other compound known in the art that would be administered with such a vaccine. The compound can be administered before, after or at the same time as the antigenic TB molecules. Thus, the term "co-administration" is used herein to mean that the antigenic TB molecules and the additional compound (e.g., immune stimulating compound) will be administered at times to achieve a specific TB immune response, as described herein. The methods of the present invention are not limited to the sequence in which the compounds are administered, so long as the compound is administered close enough in time to produce the desired effect.

[0125] Routes and frequency of administration of the inventive pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines, as well as dosage, will vary from individual to individual and can parallel those currently being used in immunization using BCG. In general, the pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines can be administered by injection (e.g., intracutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous), intranasally (e.g., by aspiration), intralung, or orally. Between 1 and 3 doses can be administered for a 1-36 week period. Preferably, 3 doses are administered, at intervals of 3-4 months, and booster vaccinations can be given periodically thereafter. Alternate protocols can be appropriate for individual patients. A suitable dose is an amount of polypeptide or DNA that, when administered as described above, is capable of raising an immune response in an immunized patient sufficient to protect the patient from M. tuberculosis infection for at least 1-2 years. In general, the amount of polypeptide present in a dose (or produced in situ by the DNA in a dose) ranges from about 1 pg to about 100 mg per kg of host, typically from about 10 pg to about 1 mg, and preferably from about 100 pg to about 1 .mu.g. Suitable dose sizes will vary with the size of the patient, but will typically range from about 0.1 mL to about 5 mL. EXEMPLIFICATION

Example 1

M. tuberculosis Peptides Associated With MHC Class 1 Molecules

[0126] A strategy to detect M. tuberculosis peptides associated with MHC Class I molecules of mouse macrophages infected in vivo was applied to identify the microbial antigens.

[0127] The rationale to search for M. tuberculosis antigens or peptides associated with the MHC class I molecules of infected cells is based on the fact that these host cell molecules are crucial to present antigens to CD8+ T cells, a subset of T cells involved in resistance and against tuberculosis. Therefore, this approach of antigen discovery has direct implication in vaccine development strategies against this disease.

[0128] The MHC class I-associated M. tuberculosis peptides were isolated from adherent spleen cells of C57BL/6 mice infected with 107 CFU of M. tuberculosis. C57BL/6 mice are considered to be relatively resistant to M. tuberculosis infection, therefore ideal for these studies. The infection with a high inoculum is important to achieve high degree of intra cellular infection in the animals' spleen cells. Between days 10 and 14 of infection the mice spleens contain approximately five times more cells than non-infected controls. A great percentage of the spleen cells are macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis. The mice were sacrificed and their splenic adherent cells were obtained, lysed with CHAPS detergent (Boehringer Mannheim Corp., Indianapolis, Ind.), and the MHC class I molecules isolated by affinity purification on a protein G sepharose column linked to the anti-H-2 K/D.sup.b monoclonal antibody (ATCC HB-11). The procedure is summarized in FIG. 3.

[0129] The eluted peptides comprising a mixture of molecules below 5 kDa were ultra filtrated over a Millipore Ultrafree-CL 5 kDa cutoff were then fractionated by microbore reverse phase HPLC (Delta-Pak C18 column, 300 .ANG. pore size, 5.mu. particle). The HPLC profiles rendered several peaks, which were individually analyzed by microcapillary liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to determine the molecular weight and abundance of all peptide species. The mass of the candidate peptides was then obtained by collision activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectra (MS/MS).

[0130] The peptide sequences were searched for identity with known proteins in both the M. tuberculosis and mouse genome databases (The Institute for Genomic Research). Several peptides had strong homology with mouse protein. However seven peptide and nucleic acid sequences were identified to being of M. tuberculosis origin (FIG. 1). The corresponding genes encoding the protein donor of these peptides are being cloned and will be expressed using standard procedures. In addition, bacterial plasmid DNA containing these M. tuberculosis genes will be prepared. Both, recombinant protein and plasmid DNA will be used in immunization protocols aiming to investigate the protection potential of these molecules to protect mice against challenge with virulent M. tuberculosis. The protein formulation will the used to test CD4+ response and the DNA immunization will target CD8+ T cell response.

Example 2

A M. tuberculosis Antigen Found in the Urine of Infected Mice

[0131] A strategy to detect M. tuberculosis antigens in the urine of infected mice was applied to identify the microbial antigens in the urine of patients with active tuberculosis.

[0132] Antigen detection assays, in contrast to conventional serology, detect disease status and not the host antibody response to the disease etiological agent. It can therefore be used for both diagnosis and treatment follow up. In the present project an antigen discovery approach to identify M. tuberculosis antigens in the urine of human patients was used. Additionally, recombinant proteins will be produced and validated as markers of active disease.

[0133] Individual urines (15 mL) were loaded onto a 15 mL capacity Vivaspin 5K MWCO filtered and centrifuged at 3000G at 4.degree. C. until the retentate volume was <2 mL. The concentrate was removed from the membrane by rinsing with 6M urea 100 mM ammonium bicarbonate. Final concentrates were brought up to 4 mL with 6M Urea 100 mM ammonium bicarbonate pH 8.5. To each protein concentrate sample was added 20 mL of 2M DTT. Samples were vortexed and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 1 hour. Reduced cysteines were alkylated by adding 200 mL of 0.5M iodoacetamide to each sample. Samples were vortexed and allowed to react for 1 hour at room temperature in the dark. Residual iodoacetamide was quenched with 15 mL of 2M DTT. From the 4 mL stock sample, 300 uL was removed for gel analysis.

[0134] Gels were imaged with a Kodak DC280 Digital Camera fitted with a +10 Macro lens. Images were processed using Adobe Photoshop and printed out. Gels were cut with a clean razor blade into 33 gel slices each while marking positions of the cuts for each slice. Slices were then placed into 2 mL centrifuge tubes. All further processing of the samplers was perfomed in a dual isolation BioSafety Cabinet. The tubes with gel slices were filled to 2 mL with 50% methanol, 5% acetic acid, and rinsed three times with additional aliquots of 50% methanol, 5% acetic acid. The destain solution was removed and the tubes filled with 2 mL of acetonitrile. After 30 minutes with agitation, the acetonitrile was removed and replaced with 100 mM ammonium bicarbonate. After 30 minutes the ammonium bicarbonate solution was removed and the tubes were filled with acetonitrile. This acetonitrile, ammonium bicarbonate rinsing step was repeated once. The final acetonitrile wash was removed just prior to digestion and the gel slices dried for 30 minutes in a speedvac. The tubes containing the dried gel slices were placed on ice and allowed to cool. Promega Sequencing grade trypsin was dissolved in ice cold 50 mM ammonium bicarbonate to a concentration of 13.3 mg/mL. Using a repeating pipettor, 125 mL of the trypsin solution was added to the bottom of each tube. The gel slices were allowed to swell for 15 minutes on ice, after which an additional 125 mL of 50 mM ammonium bicarbonate was added to each tube. The tubes were then capped and incubated for 16 hours at 37.degree. C. After digestion 650 mL of 50 mM ammonium bicarbonate was added to each tube. The samples were then incubated for 1 hour at 37.degree. C. The first set of extracts were removed and placed into labeled Axygen 1.5 mL tubes, a second extraction of 650 mL ammonium bicarbonate was carried out and pooled with the first. These extracts were then lyophilized while two acidic extractions of 650 mL of 50% acetonitrile 0.1% formic acid were carried out. All extracts were frozen to -80.degree. C. and lyophilized to dryness in a ThermoSavant SC280 speedvac <10 mTorr. The lyophilate was redissolved into 200 mL of 5% acetonitrile 0.1% formic acid. Appropriate volumes of each extract (1-6, 10 mL)(7-12, 20 mL) (13-18, 35 mL) (19-33, 50 mL) were added to a 96 well plate to approximate protein molarity load and protein from each MW region of the gel, the plate was frozen to -80.degree. C. and lyophilized again. All samples were redissolved in 12 mL of 5% acetonitrile 0.1% formic acid.

[0135] Samples were then evaluated by Mass Spectrometry on a LCQ DECA XP plus Proteome X workstation from Thermofinnigan. For each run 10 mL of each reconstituted sample were injected with a Famos Autosampler while the separation was done on a 75 mm i.d..times.18cm column packed with C18 media running at a 235 nL a minute flow rate provided from a Surveyor MS pump with a flow splitter with a gradient of 5-60% water 0.1% formic acid, acetonitrile 0.1% formic acid over the course of 90 min. (2.5 hour run), 180 minutes (4 hour run), or 400 minutes(8 hour run). In between each set of samples was run two standards of a 5 Angio mix peptides (Michrom BioResources) to ascertain column performance, and observe any potential carryover that might have occurred. The LCQ was run in a top five configuration with one MS scans and five MS/MS scans. Dynamic exclusion was set to 1 with a limit of 30 seconds. Peptide ID's were made using Sequest through the Bioworks Browser 3.1. Sequential database searches was made using the NCBI RefSeqHuman Database using differential carbamidomethyl modified cysteines and oxidized methionines, followed by further searches using differential modifications. Secondary searches were performed using Sequest using RefSeqHuman Gnomon predicted protein database. In this fashion known and theoretical protein hits can be found without compromising the statistical relevance of all the data. Peptide score cutoff values were chosen at Xcorr of 1.8 for singly charged ions, 2.5 for doubly charged ions, and 3.0 for triply charged ions, along with deltaCN values of 0.1, and RSP values of 1. The cross correlation values chosen for each peptide assure a high confidence match for the different charge states, while the deltaCN cutoff insures the uniqueness of the peptide hit. The RSP value of 1 ensured that the peptide matched the top hit in the preliminary scoring and that the peptide fragment file only matched to one protein hit. Using this state of art approach several human peptides were identified but most importantly we were able thus far to identify at least five M. tuberculosis peptides in the urine of three out of the six urine samples studied. One of the sequences of the identified peptide (MVIIELMRR--SEQ ID NO: 30) has identical homology with the deduced sequence of a M. tuberculosis protein (FIG. 2) [The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), and SWISS-PROT/TrEMBL AC #033183]. Four other sequences were identified, SEQ ID NO: 34, 38, 42, 46, shown in FIGS. 5-9, respectively. These peptide sequence was found in three out of six urine samples from tuberculosis patients. PCR primers were designed and synthesized and used to amplify the full-length gene encoding this protein from M. tuberculosis genomic DNA. A DNA fragment (.about.1 kb) containing at the 5' end an Nde I site and at the 3' end a Bam HI site, was obtained and is currently been used to clone and expressed the gene.

Example 3

Production, Purification and Characterization of M tuberculosis Recombinant Proteins

[0136] Concentrated efforts have been made to produce, purify, and characterize the proteins of M. tuberculosis found in the urine of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, as described herein. Three of them (MTP1694 (SEQ ID NO: 42), MTP2462 (SEQ ID NO: 46)) and (MT2990 (SEQ ID NO: 38)) have been obtained and their biochemical and biological properties characterized. The three proteins were purified from inclusion bodies with yields ranging from 10 to 15 mg of purified protein per liter of induced culture. FIG. 10 illustrates the over-expression of the recombinant molecules, MT 1694, MT2462, and MT2990, in E. coli and shows that they migrated to positions in the gel that correspond to their expected Molecular Weight (MW). Recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli BL-21(DE3)/pLysS host cells with six His-tag amino terminal residues. Proteins were purified by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA agarose matrix. Purity was evaluated by SDS-PAGE (4-20% gradient polyacrylamide gel) followed by Coomassie blue stain. Because the MT2990 gene codes for a protein of 130.6 kDa MW, which is a molecule size that is difficult to express as recombinant protein, overlapping/truncated forms of this molecule were cloned and expressed. The cloned and expressed protein illustrated in FIG. 10 represents a fragment of the full length gene that spans 100 amino acids, both upstream and downstream of the amino acid sequence of the M. tuberculosis protein (MT2990) that has identical homology with the peptide found in the urine of tuberculosis patients. This fragment of the molecule was chosen because this portion of the protein it is stable and resistant to the host proteolytic enzyme machinery, therefore a vaccine target.

[0137] Rabbit antisera to MTP1694 and MTP2462 recombinant proteins were produced and an antiserum to MT2990 is being and can be generated. The antisera to MTP1694 and MTP2462 were used to validate identified proteins as a genuine M. tuberculosis molecules, which was carried out by Western blot analyses using a crude antigenic preparations of M. tuberculosis antigen (whole bacterial cell extract) as well as culture filtrate(CF) or CF antigens (supplied by the Dept. Microbiol. Immunol. Pathol., Colorado State University, Fort Collins Colo.). Antigens were electrophoresed under reducing conditions in a 4-20% gradient gel and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane followed by probing with either rabbit anti-MTB1694 or anti-MT2462 antisera. Reactivity was detected with peroxidase labeled goat-anti-rabbit immunoglobulin and developed using a chemiluminescent reagent (ECL). FIG. 11 indicates that the anti-MTP1694 antiserum recognizes a band of .about.37 kDa in both the mycobacterial lysate and culture filtrate preparations (lanes 1 and 2) as well as, as expected, the recombinant protein (lane 3). In contrast, the anti-MTP2462 antiserum recognizes a band of .about.27 kDa in only in the bacterial lysate and not in the culture filtrate. The MW bands of both antigens match their predicted MW. In addition, the MW of the recombinant molecules are slightly higher than the native molecules, which is expected because the recombinant molecules have, in addition to the sequences of the native molecules, a stretch of 16 amino acids derived from the cloning vector (a tag of six histidines to facilitate purification and a thrombin site composed of 10 amino acids to allow cleavage of the his-tag). These results therefore confirm that both MTP1694 and MTP2462 are genuine M. tuberculosis proteins that are actively produced during the bacterial growth. In addition, because the antigen MTP1694 is present in the culture filtrate preparation ("M. tuberculosis secrete protein") these results demonstrate this molecule to be useful as a vaccine.

[0138] To evaluate the use of the identified antigens as vaccine targets for humans, the response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from healthy PPD (an intradermal skin test response to tuberculosis proteins using a Purified Protein Derivative) positive donors to these antigens was analyzed. Thus far, four healthy PPD positive and one PPD negative donors have been tested with the antigens MTP1694 and MTP2462. The recombinant protein (MT299) mentioned above, had not been available at the time that these assays were performed. To test for the antigen recognition, both antigen induced proliferative response and production of IFN-.gamma. were used, following stimulation with recombinant antigens (5 ug/ml). Proliferation was measured by [3H]TdR incorporation and results are expressed as counts per minute (CPM). IFN-.gamma. was measured by sandwich ELISA in the culture supernatants. The results are expressed in FIGS. 12A and B and indicate that both antigens are readily recognized by PBMC of three out the four PPD positive donors. No response was observed with the PBMC obtained from the PPD negative donor. These results suggest that these antigens will be recognized by a high percentage of the healthy PPD positive individuals (presumably resistant). In addition, because the proliferative response was accompanied by the production of IFN-.gamma., MT1649 and MT2462 is associated with protection against tuberculosis, therefore these molecules are vaccine targets.

[0139] The relevant teachings of all the references, patents and/or patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0140] The teachings of the following patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,198, entitled, "Fusion proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and their uses;"U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,881, entitled, "Compounds for immunotherapy and diagnosis of tuberculosis and methods of their use;" "U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,877, entitled, "Compounds and methods for immunotherapy and diagnosis of tuberculosis;" "U.S. Pat. No. 6,555,653, entitled, "Compounds for diagnosis of tuberculosis and methods of their uses;"U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,522, entitled, "Fusion proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and their uses; "U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,366, entitled, "Compounds and methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,852 entitled, "Compounds and methods for diagnosis of tuberculosis;" and "U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,969, entitled, "Compounds and methods for immunotherapy and diagnosis of tuberculosis."

[0141] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

Sequence CWU 1

1

48127DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 1gacggctatg tcggcgcgcc tgcccac 2729PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 2Asp Gly Tyr Val Gly Ala Pro Ala His1 531260DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 3gtgatcgacg gctggacgga agaacagcac gaacccaccg ttaggcatga gcgcccagca 60gctccccaag acgttcggcg ggtgatgttg ctgggttcgg ccgaacccag ccgggagctg 120gcgatcgcgt tgcagggctt gggcgcggag gtgatcgccg tcgacggcta tgtcggcgcg 180cctgcccacc ggatagccga ccagtcggtg gtggtcacca tgaccgatgc tgaagagctg 240acggcggtga tccggcggct gcaaccggat ttcttggtga cggtcaccgc cgcggtgtct 300gtggatgctc tcgatgccgt cgagcaagcc gacggcgagt gcactgagct ggtgccgaac 360gcccgtgccg tccggtgcac ggccgaccgg gagggcctgc gccggctggc cgccgatcag 420ctcggcctgc ccacagcccc gttctggttc gtcggatccc ttggcgaact tcaagcggtg 480gccgtccatg ctgggtttcc gttgctggtg agcccggtgg caggggtggc tggccagggt 540agctcggtgg tcgccgggcc caacgaggtc gagcccgcct ggcagcgcgc ggcaggccat 600caagtacagc cgcagactgg gggagtgagc cctcgggtgt gcgccgagtc ggtggtcgag 660atcgagtttt tggtcaccat gatcgttgtg tgcagtcagg gcccgaacgg gccgctcatc 720gagttctgtg cacctatcgg tcatcgcgac gccgatgccg gtgagttgga atcctggcaa 780ccgcagaagc tgagcacggc ggcgctggac gcggccaagt cgatcgccgc gcgcatcgtc 840aaggcgctcg ggggacgcgg ggttttcggc gtcgaattga tgatcaacgg cgatgaggtg 900tatttcgccg atgtcaccgt gtgtcctgcc gggagtgcct gggtcaccgt gcgcagccag 960cggctttcgg tgttcgaact gcaggcccgg gcgatcctgg gtctggcggt ggacaccctg 1020atgatctcgc cgggtgccgc gcgggtgatc aacccggacc acacggcagg ccgggcagcg 1080gtcggcgccg caccacctgc cgatgcgctg accggtgcgc tcggtgtgcc ggaaagcgac 1140gtcgtgatat tcggccgcgg gcttggggtg gcgctggcca ccgcacccga ggtggcaatc 1200gcccgcgaac gcgcccgcga agttgcatct cggctaaatg tgccagactc acgcgagtga 12604419PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 4Met Ile Asp Gly Trp Thr Glu Glu Gln His Glu Pro Thr Val Arg His1 5 10 15Glu Arg Pro Ala Ala Pro Gln Asp Val Arg Arg Val Met Leu Leu Gly 20 25 30Ser Ala Glu Pro Ser Arg Glu Leu Ala Ile Ala Leu Gln Gly Leu Gly 35 40 45Ala Glu Val Ile Ala Val Asp Gly Tyr Val Gly Ala Pro Ala His Arg 50 55 60Ile Ala Asp Gln Ser Val Val Val Thr Met Thr Asp Ala Glu Glu Leu65 70 75 80Thr Ala Val Ile Arg Arg Leu Gln Pro Asp Phe Leu Val Thr Val Thr 85 90 95Ala Ala Val Ser Val Asp Ala Leu Asp Ala Val Glu Gln Ala Asp Gly 100 105 110Glu Cys Thr Glu Leu Val Pro Asn Ala Arg Ala Val Arg Cys Thr Ala 115 120 125Asp Arg Glu Gly Leu Arg Arg Leu Ala Ala Asp Gln Leu Gly Leu Pro 130 135 140Thr Ala Pro Phe Trp Phe Val Gly Ser Leu Gly Glu Leu Gln Ala Val145 150 155 160Ala Val His Ala Gly Phe Pro Leu Leu Val Ser Pro Val Ala Gly Val 165 170 175Ala Gly Gln Gly Ser Ser Val Val Ala Gly Pro Asn Glu Val Glu Pro 180 185 190Ala Trp Gln Arg Ala Ala Gly His Gln Val Gln Pro Gln Thr Gly Gly 195 200 205Val Ser Pro Arg Val Cys Ala Glu Ser Val Val Glu Ile Glu Phe Leu 210 215 220Val Thr Met Ile Val Val Cys Ser Gln Gly Pro Asn Gly Pro Leu Ile225 230 235 240Glu Phe Cys Ala Pro Ile Gly His Arg Asp Ala Asp Ala Gly Glu Leu 245 250 255Glu Ser Trp Gln Pro Gln Lys Leu Ser Thr Ala Ala Leu Asp Ala Ala 260 265 270Lys Ser Ile Ala Ala Arg Ile Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Gly Arg Gly Val 275 280 285Phe Gly Val Glu Leu Met Ile Asn Gly Asp Glu Val Tyr Phe Ala Asp 290 295 300Val Thr Val Cys Pro Ala Gly Ser Ala Trp Val Thr Val Arg Ser Gln305 310 315 320Arg Leu Ser Val Phe Glu Leu Gln Ala Arg Ala Ile Leu Gly Leu Ala 325 330 335Val Asp Thr Leu Met Ile Ser Pro Gly Ala Ala Arg Val Ile Asn Pro 340 345 350Asp His Thr Ala Gly Arg Ala Ala Val Gly Ala Ala Pro Pro Ala Asp 355 360 365Ala Leu Thr Gly Ala Leu Gly Val Pro Glu Ser Asp Val Val Ile Phe 370 375 380Gly Arg Gly Leu Gly Val Ala Leu Ala Thr Ala Pro Glu Val Ala Ile385 390 395 400Ala Arg Glu Arg Ala Arg Glu Val Ala Ser Arg Leu Asn Val Pro Asp 405 410 415Ser Arg Glu539DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 5cttgcggcgg tggtgggcgt cgtcctggcg caggtgttg 39613PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 6Leu Ala Ala Val Val Gly Val Val Leu Ala Gln Val Leu1 5 1071050DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 7atgctcttcg cggccctgcg tgacatgcaa tggagaaagc gccgcctggt catcacgatc 60atcagcaccg ggctgatctt cgggatgacg cttgttttga ccggactcgc gaacggcttc 120cgggtggagg cccggcacac cgtcgattcc atgggtgtcg atgtattcgt cgtcagatcc 180ggcgctgctg gaccttttct gggttcaata ccgtttcccg atgttgacct ggcccgagtg 240gccgctgaac ccggtgtcat ggccgcggcc ccgttgggca gcgtggggac gatcatgaaa 300gaaggcacgt cgacgcgaaa cgtcacggtc ttcggcgcgc ccgagcacgg acctggcatg 360ccacgggtct cagagggtcg gtcaccgtcg aaaccggacg aagtcgcggc atcgagcacg 420atgggccgac acctcggtga cactgtcgag gtcggcgcgc gcagattgcg ggtcgttggc 480attgtgccga attccaccgc gctggccaag atccccaatg tcttcctcac gaccgagggc 540ttacagaaat tggcgtacaa cgggcagccg aatatcacgt ccatcgggat cataggtatg 600ccccgacagc tgccggaggg ttaccagact ttcgatcggg tgggcgctgt caatgatttg 660gtgcgcccat tgaaggtcgc agtgaattcg atctcgatcg tggctgtttt gctgtggatt 720gtggcggtgc tgatcgtcgg ctcggtggtg tacctttcgg ctcttgagcg gctacgtgac 780ttcgcggtgt tcaaggcgat tggcacgcca acgcgctcga ttatggccgg gctcgcatta 840caggcgctgg tcattgcgtt gcttgcggcg gtggtgggcg tcgtcctggc gcaggtgttg 900gcaccactgt ttccgatgat tgtcgcggta cccgtcggtg cttacctggc gctaccggtg 960gccgcgatcg tcatcggtct gttcgctagt gttgccggat tgaagcgcgt ggtgacggtc 1020gatcccgcgc aggcgttcgg aggtccctag 10508349PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 8Met Leu Phe Ala Ala Leu Arg Asp Met Gln Trp Arg Lys Arg Arg Leu1 5 10 15Val Ile Thr Ile Ile Ser Thr Gly Leu Ile Phe Gly Met Thr Leu Val 20 25 30Leu Thr Gly Leu Ala Asn Gly Phe Arg Val Glu Ala Arg His Thr Val 35 40 45Asp Ser Met Gly Val Asp Val Phe Val Val Arg Ser Gly Ala Ala Gly 50 55 60Pro Phe Leu Gly Ser Ile Pro Phe Pro Asp Val Asp Leu Ala Arg Val65 70 75 80Ala Ala Glu Pro Gly Val Met Ala Ala Ala Pro Leu Gly Ser Val Gly 85 90 95Thr Ile Met Lys Glu Gly Thr Ser Thr Arg Asn Val Thr Val Phe Gly 100 105 110Ala Pro Glu His Gly Pro Gly Met Pro Arg Val Ser Glu Gly Arg Ser 115 120 125Pro Ser Lys Pro Asp Glu Val Ala Ala Ser Ser Thr Met Gly Arg His 130 135 140Leu Gly Asp Thr Val Glu Val Gly Ala Arg Arg Leu Arg Val Val Gly145 150 155 160Ile Val Pro Asn Ser Thr Ala Leu Ala Lys Ile Pro Asn Val Phe Leu 165 170 175Thr Thr Glu Gly Leu Gln Lys Leu Ala Tyr Asn Gly Gln Pro Asn Ile 180 185 190Thr Ser Ile Gly Ile Ile Gly Met Pro Arg Gln Leu Pro Glu Gly Tyr 195 200 205Gln Thr Phe Asp Arg Val Gly Ala Val Asn Asp Leu Val Arg Pro Leu 210 215 220Lys Val Ala Val Asn Ser Ile Ser Ile Val Ala Val Leu Leu Trp Ile225 230 235 240Val Ala Val Leu Ile Val Gly Ser Val Val Tyr Leu Ser Ala Leu Glu 245 250 255Arg Leu Arg Asp Phe Ala Val Phe Lys Ala Ile Gly Thr Pro Thr Arg 260 265 270Ser Ile Met Ala Gly Leu Ala Leu Gln Ala Leu Val Ile Ala Leu Leu 275 280 285Ala Ala Val Val Gly Val Val Leu Ala Gln Val Leu Ala Pro Leu Phe 290 295 300Pro Met Ile Val Ala Val Pro Val Gly Ala Tyr Leu Ala Leu Pro Val305 310 315 320Ala Ala Ile Val Ile Gly Leu Phe Ala Ser Val Ala Gly Leu Lys Arg 325 330 335Val Val Thr Val Asp Pro Ala Gln Ala Phe Gly Gly Pro 340 345927DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 9cgctccggcg cggccacacc cgttcgc 27109PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 10Arg Ser Gly Ala Ala Thr Pro Val Arg1 511171DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 11gtgccggccg ctccgtcgac aagagagaag gactgcatgc tggttttgca cggcttctgg 60tccaactccg gcgggatgcg gctgtgggcg gaggactccg atctgctggt gaagagcccg 120agtcaggcgc tgcgctccgg cgcggccaca cccgttcgcg gcgcccgctg a 1711256PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 12Met Pro Ala Ala Pro Ser Thr Arg Glu Lys Asp Cys Met Leu Val Leu1 5 10 15His Gly Phe Trp Ser Asn Ser Gly Gly Met Arg Leu Trp Ala Glu Asp 20 25 30Ser Asp Leu Leu Val Lys Ser Pro Ser Gln Ala Leu Arg Ser Gly Ala 35 40 45Ala Thr Pro Val Arg Gly Ala Arg 50 551321DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 13acctgcctcc cattcgcact a 21147PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 14Thr Cys Leu Pro Phe Ala Leu1 515267DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 15atgtccgcgc cacccgctca agcgccggta tgtggcgcct tggcggctag gccaaccgcc 60cccggcaacg ccagctgcac acgcccagcg aagcgcgatt gtcggtacgg gtcgcgctgc 120gaaacctgcc tcccattcgc actagcaaaa gactgtcgac aagcgagcag tcgacttcag 180gccgcgaccg aacccgacga gacgacaaca acatctgtca tctcaatgcg ctcaccagga 240tcgctacaat atcagccagc tacatga 2671688PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 16Met Ser Ala Pro Pro Ala Gln Ala Pro Val Cys Gly Ala Leu Ala Ala1 5 10 15Arg Pro Thr Ala Pro Gly Asn Ala Ser Cys Thr Arg Pro Ala Lys Arg 20 25 30Asp Cys Arg Tyr Gly Ser Arg Cys Glu Thr Cys Leu Pro Phe Ala Leu 35 40 45Ala Lys Asp Cys Arg Gln Ala Ser Ser Arg Leu Gln Ala Ala Thr Glu 50 55 60Pro Asp Glu Thr Thr Thr Thr Ser Val Ile Ser Met Arg Ser Pro Gly65 70 75 80Ser Leu Gln Tyr Gln Pro Ala Thr 851724DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 17acgaccatgc cgctgttcgc cgac 24188PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 18Thr Thr Met Pro Leu Phe Ala Asp1 519492DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 19gtgccagagg tcacccgtga agaaccggca atcgatggat ggttcaccac cgataaggcc 60ggcaacccgc atctgctcgg cggcaagtgt ccccagtgcg gcacgtacgt cttcccaccc 120cgggcggaca attgtccgaa tccggcttgc ggcagcgaca cactagagtc ggtcggactg 180tcgacccgcg gaaagctttg gagctacacc gaaaaccggt acgccccgcc accgccgtac 240ccggcacccg acccctttga gccgtttgcc gtggccgcgg tggaactggc cgacgaggga 300ctgatcgtgc tgggcaaagt ggtcgatggc acgctggccg ccgatctgaa ggtcggcatg 360gagatggagc tgacgaccat gccgctgttc gccgacgacg acggtgtgca gcgcatcgtc 420tacgcgtggc ggatcccatc gcgcgccggc gacgatgcag agcgcagcga tgctgaggag 480cggcgccgat ga 49220163PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 20Met Pro Glu Val Thr Arg Glu Glu Pro Ala Ile Asp Gly Trp Phe Thr1 5 10 15Thr Asp Lys Ala Gly Asn Pro His Leu Leu Gly Gly Lys Cys Pro Gln 20 25 30Cys Gly Thr Tyr Val Phe Pro Pro Arg Ala Asp Asn Cys Pro Asn Pro 35 40 45Ala Cys Gly Ser Asp Thr Leu Glu Ser Val Gly Leu Ser Thr Arg Gly 50 55 60Lys Leu Trp Ser Tyr Thr Glu Asn Arg Tyr Ala Pro Pro Pro Pro Tyr65 70 75 80Pro Ala Pro Asp Pro Phe Glu Pro Phe Ala Val Ala Ala Val Glu Leu 85 90 95Ala Asp Glu Gly Leu Ile Val Leu Gly Lys Val Val Asp Gly Thr Leu 100 105 110Ala Ala Asp Leu Lys Val Gly Met Glu Met Glu Leu Thr Thr Met Pro 115 120 125Leu Phe Ala Asp Asp Asp Gly Val Gln Arg Ile Val Tyr Ala Trp Arg 130 135 140Ile Pro Ser Arg Ala Gly Asp Asp Ala Glu Arg Ser Asp Ala Glu Glu145 150 155 160Arg Arg Arg21140DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 21gtgctggtcg cactggccgc gctgggcacc caaccgtggc aggacttcgc agagcaggaa 60accgccgggc tggccatcat cttggacaac gtcacgcatg gcgaatgggc cagcacgatt 120ctggccgcgg tgcggtggtc 1402247PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 22Val Leu Val Ala Leu Ala Ala Leu Gly Thr Gln Pro Trp Gln Asp Phe1 5 10 15Ala Glu Gln Glu Thr Ala Gly Leu Ala Ile Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Thr 20 25 30His Gly Glu Trp Ala Ser Thr Ile Leu Ala Ala Gly Ala Val Val 35 40 45231430DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 23ttgccgacaa cgtcgatgag ccttcgagaa ctgatgctgc ggcgccgccc ggtgagcggc 60gccccggtcg catccggggc atcggggaac ctcaagcgga gtttcggcac cttccagctg 120accatgttcg gggttggcgc gacgataggt accggcatct ttttcgtgct tgcccaggca 180gttccagagg ccggcccggg cgtgattgtt tcgttcatca tcgccggcat cgccgctggg 240ctcgcggcta tctgctacgc ggaactggct tccgccgtgc cgatttccgg gtcggcgtac 300tcctacgcgt acacgacgct gggcgaggcg gtcgcgatgg tggtggcggc ctgcctactg 360ctggaatacg gggtagccac cgcagcggtc gcggtcggct ggagtggcta cgtgaacaag 420ctgctgagta atctgttcgg atttcagatg ccgcacgtat tgtcggcggc gccgtgggac 480acccatcccg gttgggtgaa cctgcccgcc gtcatcctga tcgggctatg cgcgctgctg 540ttgattcgag gggccagcga gtcggcgagg gtcaacgcga tcatggtgct gatcaagctc 600ggcgtgctgg gcatgttcat gatcatcgcg ttcagcgcgt acagcgccga ccacctcaag 660gatttcgtcc cattcggcgt cgccggcatc ggctccgcgg cgggcacgat cttcttctca 720tacatcggcc ttgacgcggt gtcgaccgcc ggcgacgagg tgaaggaccc gcagaagacc 780atgccgcgtg cgctgatcgc agcgctggtg gtcgtcaccg gtgtctacgt gctggtcgca 840ctggccgcgc tgggcaccca accgtggcag gacttcgcag agcaggaaac cgccgggctg 900gccatcatct tggacaacgt cacgcatggc gaatgggcca gcacgattct ggccgccggt 960gcggtggctc gattttcacc gtcacgctgg tcaccatgta cggccagacc cggatcctgt 1020tcgcgatggg gcgcgacggg ctgctgccgg cgcggttcgc gaaggtgaat ccgcgcacca 1080tgacgccggt gcacaacacg gtgatcgtcg cgatcttcgc atcgacgctg gccgccttca 1140taccgctgga tagcttggcg gacatggtgt ccatcggcac gctcaccgcg ttcagcgtgg 1200tggctgtggg tgtgatcgtt ctacgggtgc gcgagcccga cttaccccga gggttcaagg 1260tacccggtta ccctgtgacg cctgttcttt cggtgctggc ctgcgggtat atcctggcca 1320gcttgcactg gtacacctgg ctggcgttca gcggatgggt ggcggtggca gtgatctttt 1380acctgatgtg gggtcggcac cacagtgcgc tcaacgagga agtgccgtga 143024475PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 24Met Pro Thr Thr Ser Met Ser Leu Arg Glu Leu Met Leu Arg Arg Arg1 5 10 15Pro Val Ser Gly Ala Pro Val Ala Ser Gly Ala Ser Gly Asn Leu Lys 20 25 30Arg Ser Phe Gly Thr Phe Gln Leu Thr Met Phe Gly Val Gly Ala Thr 35 40 45Ile Gly Thr Gly Ile Phe Phe Val Leu Ala Gln Ala Val Pro Glu Ala 50 55 60Gly Pro Gly Val Ile Val Ser Phe Ile Ile Ala Gly Ile Ala Ala Gly65 70 75 80Leu Ala Ala Ile Cys Tyr Ala Glu Leu Ala Ser Ala Val Pro Ile Ser 85 90 95Gly Ser Ala Tyr Ser Tyr Ala Tyr Thr Thr Leu Gly Glu Ala Val Ala 100 105 110Met Val Val Ala Ala Cys Leu Leu Leu Glu Tyr Gly Val Ala Thr Ala 115 120 125Ala Val Ala Val Gly Trp Ser Gly Tyr Val Asn Lys Leu Leu Ser Asn 130 135 140Leu Phe Gly Phe Gln Met Pro His Val Leu Ser Ala Ala Pro Trp Asp145 150 155 160Thr His Pro Gly Trp Val Asn Leu Pro Ala Val Ile Leu Ile Gly Leu 165 170 175Cys Ala Leu Leu Leu Ile Arg Gly Ala Ser Glu Ser Ala Arg Val Asn 180 185 190Ala Ile Met Val Leu Ile Lys Leu Gly Val Leu Gly Met Phe Met Ile 195 200 205Ile Ala Phe Ser Ala Tyr Ser Ala Asp His Leu Lys Asp Phe Val Pro 210 215 220Phe Gly Val Ala Gly Ile Gly Ser Ala Ala Gly Thr Ile Phe Phe Ser225 230 235 240Tyr Ile Gly Leu Asp Ala Val Ser Thr Ala Gly Asp Glu Val Lys Asp 245 250 255Pro Gln Lys Thr Met Pro Arg Ala Leu Ile Ala Ala Leu Val Val Val 260 265 270Thr Gly Val Tyr Val Leu Val Ala Leu Ala Ala Leu Gly Thr Gln Pro 275 280 285Trp Gln Asp Phe Ala Glu Gln Glu Thr Ala Gly Leu Ala Ile Ile Leu 290 295 300Asp Asn Val Thr His Gly Glu Trp Ala Ser Thr Ile Leu Ala Ala Gly305 310 315 320Ala Val Val Ser Ile Phe Thr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Met Tyr Gly Gln

325 330 335Thr Arg Ile Leu Phe Ala Met Gly Arg Asp Gly Leu Leu Pro Ala Arg 340 345 350Phe Ala Lys Val Asn Pro Arg Thr Met Thr Pro Val His Asn Thr Ile 355 360 365Val Ala Ile Phe Ala Ser Thr Leu Ala Ala Phe Ile Pro Leu Asp Ser 370 375 380Leu Ala Asp Met Val Ser Ile Gly Thr Leu Thr Ala Phe Ser Val Val385 390 395 400Ala Val Gly Val Ile Val Leu Arg Val Arg Glu Pro Asp Leu Pro Arg 405 410 415Gly Phe Lys Val Pro Gly Tyr Pro Val Thr Pro Val Leu Ser Val Leu 420 425 430Ala Cys Gly Tyr Ile Leu Ala Ser Leu His Trp Tyr Thr Trp Leu Ala 435 440 445Phe Ser Gly Trp Val Ala Val Ala Val Ile Phe Tyr Leu Met Trp Gly 450 455 460Arg His His Ser Ala Leu Asn Glu Glu Val Pro465 470 4752554DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 25tgcgcggtgg tgctggccac catgccgccg ctgctttcgg cgatcgccaa cgca 542618PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 26Cys Ala Val Val Leu Ala Thr Met Pro Pro Leu Leu Ser Ala Ile Ala1 5 10 15Asn Ala271974DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 27atgaccttga ccgcttgtga agtaactgcc gcggaggctc ctttcgaccg cgtttcaaag 60accattcccc acccattgag ctggggagcc gcgctgtggt cggtagtctc cgtgcgctgg 120gccaccgtgg cgctgctgct gtttctcgcc ggactagtgg cgcaactgaa cggtgctccc 180gaggccatgt ggtggacgct ttacctggcc tgttatctgg ccggcggctg gggctcggca 240tgggcgggcg cacaagcgtt gcggaacaag gcacttgatg tggatctgct gatgattgcc 300gcggcggtcg gagcggtcgc gattgggcag atcttcgacg gcgcgctgct gatcgtgatc 360ttcgccacgt ccggtgcgct ggatgacatt gccaccagac acaccgcgga atcggtcaaa 420ggcctgctgg acctcgcgcc ggatcaggcg gtggtggtcc agggcgacgg cagcgaacgg 480gtggtggcgg ccagcgagct ggtggtgggg gaccgggtgg tggtgcggcc gggggaccgg 540atacccgcag acggtgcggt gctgtcgggg gctagcgacg tcgaccaacg ctcgatcacc 600ggtgaatcga tgccggtggc caaggcccgc ggtgacgagg tgttcgccgg caccgtgaac 660ggatcgggtg tattgcatct ggtggtcacc cgtgacccga gccagaccgt ggtagcccgc 720atcgtcgaac tggtcgccga cgcttcggcg acgaaggcca aaacccaact gttcattgag 780aaaatcgagc aacgctactc cctgggcatg gtcgcggcca cccttgccct catcgttatt 840ccgctgatgt tcggcgccga cctgcggccg gtgctgctgc gcgccatgac cttcatgatc 900gtggcatcgc catgcgcggt ggtgctggcc accatgccgc cgctgctttc ggcgatcgcc 960aacgcaggcc gtcatggggt gctggtcaaa tccgcggtgg tcgtcgaacg cctggccgat 1020accagcatcg tcgctttgga caagaccggt acgctgaccc gtggcatccc gcgactggct 1080tccgtcgcac cgctggaccc caacgtggtc gatgcccggc gattgttgca attggcagct 1140gccgcagaac aatccagcga gcacccgctt ggccgggcga tcgtcgcgga agctcgtcgg 1200cgtggtatcg ccataccgcc cgccaaggac ttccgcgcgg tcccgggctg cggggtccac 1260gccctggtgg gcaacgattt cgtcgagatc gccagcccgc aaagctaccg cggtgcaccg 1320ctagcagagc tggcgccgct cctttctgcc ggcgccactg ccgccatcgt cttgttggat 1380ggagttgcca tcggtgtgct cgggctcacc gatcagcttc gtccggatgc cgtggagtcc 1440gtcgcggcga tggctgcatt gaccgccgca ccaccggtgc tgctcacggg tgacaacggg 1500cgagcggctt ggcgggtcgc tcggaacgcc gggatcaccg atgtgcgagc cgcattgctg 1560cccgagcaga aggttgaagt cgtgcgcaac ctgcaggccg gtggtcacca ggtgctgctc 1620gtcggcgacg gcgtcaacga cgctcccgcc atggccgccg cccgcgccgc tgtcgccatg 1680ggcgccggcg ccgatctgac cctacagacc gcagacgggg tgaccatacg ggacgaactg 1740cacaccatcc cgacgatcat cgggttggca cggcaggcgc gccgggtggt caccgtcaac 1800ctggccatcg cggccacctt catcgccgtc ctggtgctgt gggacctttt tgggcagctg 1860ccgctgccac tgggtgtggt gggtcacgaa gggtccactg tgctggtggc cctcaacggc 1920atgcggctat tgaccaaccg gtcgtggcgg gccgcggctt cggctgcgcg ttag 197428657PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 28Met Thr Leu Thr Ala Cys Glu Val Thr Ala Ala Glu Ala Pro Phe Asp1 5 10 15Arg Val Ser Lys Thr Ile Pro His Pro Leu Ser Trp Gly Ala Ala Leu 20 25 30Trp Ser Val Val Ser Val Arg Trp Ala Thr Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Phe 35 40 45Leu Ala Gly Leu Val Ala Gln Leu Asn Gly Ala Pro Glu Ala Met Trp 50 55 60Trp Thr Leu Tyr Leu Ala Cys Tyr Leu Ala Gly Gly Trp Gly Ser Ala65 70 75 80Trp Ala Gly Ala Gln Ala Leu Arg Asn Lys Ala Leu Asp Val Asp Leu 85 90 95Leu Met Ile Ala Ala Ala Val Gly Ala Val Ala Ile Gly Gln Ile Phe 100 105 110Asp Gly Ala Leu Leu Ile Val Ile Phe Ala Thr Ser Gly Ala Leu Asp 115 120 125Asp Ile Ala Thr Arg His Thr Ala Glu Ser Val Lys Gly Leu Leu Asp 130 135 140Leu Ala Pro Asp Gln Ala Val Val Val Gln Gly Asp Gly Ser Glu Arg145 150 155 160Val Val Ala Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Val Gly Asp Arg Val Val Val Arg 165 170 175Pro Gly Asp Arg Ile Pro Ala Asp Gly Ala Val Leu Ser Gly Ala Ser 180 185 190Asp Val Asp Gln Arg Ser Ile Thr Gly Glu Ser Met Pro Val Ala Lys 195 200 205Ala Arg Gly Asp Glu Val Phe Ala Gly Thr Val Asn Gly Ser Gly Val 210 215 220Leu His Leu Val Val Thr Arg Asp Pro Ser Gln Thr Val Val Ala Arg225 230 235 240Ile Val Glu Leu Val Ala Asp Ala Ser Ala Thr Lys Ala Lys Thr Gln 245 250 255Leu Phe Ile Glu Lys Ile Glu Gln Arg Tyr Ser Leu Gly Met Val Ala 260 265 270Ala Thr Leu Ala Leu Ile Val Ile Pro Leu Met Phe Gly Ala Asp Leu 275 280 285Arg Pro Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Met Thr Phe Met Ile Val Ala Ser Pro 290 295 300Cys Ala Val Val Leu Ala Thr Met Pro Pro Leu Leu Ser Ala Ile Ala305 310 315 320Asn Ala Gly Arg His Gly Val Leu Val Lys Ser Ala Val Val Val Glu 325 330 335Arg Leu Ala Asp Thr Ser Ile Val Ala Leu Asp Lys Thr Gly Thr Leu 340 345 350Thr Arg Gly Ile Pro Arg Leu Ala Ser Val Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Asn 355 360 365Val Val Asp Ala Arg Arg Leu Leu Gln Leu Ala Ala Ala Ala Glu Gln 370 375 380Ser Ser Glu His Pro Leu Gly Arg Ala Ile Val Ala Glu Ala Arg Arg385 390 395 400Arg Gly Ile Ala Ile Pro Pro Ala Lys Asp Phe Arg Ala Val Pro Gly 405 410 415Cys Gly Val His Ala Leu Val Gly Asn Asp Phe Val Glu Ile Ala Ser 420 425 430Pro Gln Ser Tyr Arg Gly Ala Pro Leu Ala Glu Leu Ala Pro Leu Leu 435 440 445Ser Ala Gly Ala Thr Ala Ala Ile Val Leu Leu Asp Gly Val Ala Ile 450 455 460Gly Val Leu Gly Leu Thr Asp Gln Leu Arg Pro Asp Ala Val Glu Ser465 470 475 480Val Ala Ala Met Ala Ala Leu Thr Ala Ala Pro Pro Val Leu Leu Thr 485 490 495Gly Asp Asn Gly Arg Ala Ala Trp Arg Val Ala Arg Asn Ala Gly Ile 500 505 510Thr Asp Val Arg Ala Ala Leu Leu Pro Glu Gln Lys Val Glu Val Val 515 520 525Arg Asn Leu Gln Ala Gly Gly His Gln Val Leu Leu Val Gly Asp Gly 530 535 540Val Asn Asp Ala Pro Ala Met Ala Ala Ala Arg Ala Ala Val Ala Met545 550 555 560Gly Ala Gly Ala Asp Leu Thr Leu Gln Thr Ala Asp Gly Val Thr Ile 565 570 575Arg Asp Glu Leu His Thr Ile Pro Thr Ile Ile Gly Leu Ala Arg Gln 580 585 590Ala Arg Arg Val Val Thr Val Asn Leu Ala Ile Ala Ala Thr Phe Ile 595 600 605Ala Val Leu Val Leu Trp Asp Leu Phe Gly Gln Leu Pro Leu Pro Leu 610 615 620Gly Val Val Gly His Glu Gly Ser Thr Val Leu Val Ala Leu Asn Gly625 630 635 640Met Arg Leu Leu Thr Asn Arg Ser Trp Arg Ala Ala Ala Ser Ala Ala 645 650 655Arg2927DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 29atggtgatca tagagctgat gcgccgg 27309PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 30Met Val Ile Ile Glu Leu Met Arg Arg1 531996DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 31atggtgatca tagagctgat gcgccgggtg gtaggtctcg cacagggagc taccgccgag 60gtcgccgtct atggcgaccg agatcgtgat ctcgcggagc gatggtgcgc gaacaccgga 120aacaccctgg tgcgcgccga cgtggaccag accggcgtcg gcaccctggt ggtgcgccgc 180ggccatccgc ctgacccggc aagcgtgttg ggccccgacc ggctacccgg ggtccggttg 240tggctgtaca ccaacttcca ctgcaacctg tgctgcgact actgctgcgt ctcgtcgtca 300ccaagcaccc cgcatcgcga actgggggcg gagcggatcg gccgaatcgt cggtgaagcg 360gcgcgctggg gagtgcgcga actgttcctc accggcggtg agccgttcct gctgcccgac 420atcgacacga tcatcgcgac ctgtgtgaag cagttgccca ccaccgtcct caccaacggc 480atggtgttca aagggcgggg tcggcgcgcg ctggaatccc tacctagagg gctcgccttg 540cagatcagcc tggactcggc caccccggag ctgcacgatg cgcaccgcgg cgcggggacg 600tgggtcaagg cagtagctgg tatccggttg gcgctctcac ttggcttccg ggtgcgggtg 660gccgcgacgg ttgccagccc cgcacctggc gagctgacgg cgtttcacga cttcctcgac 720gggcttggca tcgcacccgg ggatcagctg gtccggccga tcgcgctgga gggcgccgcg 780tcgcaagggg tggcgctcac ccgcgaatcg ctggttcccg aggtgaccgt caccgccgac 840ggcgtgtact ggcacccagt ggccgccacc gacgagcgcg ccctggtcac ccgtaccgtc 900gaacccttga ccccggcgct ggacatggta agccggctat tcgccgaaca gtggacacga 960gccgccgaag aggccgcgtt gttcccgtgt gcgtag 99632331PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 32Met Val Ile Ile Glu Leu Met Arg Arg Val Val Gly Leu Ala Gln Gly1 5 10 15Ala Thr Ala Glu Val Ala Val Tyr Gly Asp Arg Asp Arg Asp Leu Ala 20 25 30Glu Arg Trp Cys Ala Asn Thr Gly Asn Thr Leu Val Arg Ala Asp Val 35 40 45Asp Gln Thr Gly Val Gly Thr Leu Val Val Arg Arg Gly His Pro Pro 50 55 60Asp Pro Ala Ser Val Leu Gly Pro Asp Arg Leu Pro Gly Val Arg Leu65 70 75 80Trp Leu Tyr Thr Asn Phe His Cys Asn Leu Cys Cys Asp Tyr Cys Cys 85 90 95Val Ser Ser Ser Pro Ser Thr Pro His Arg Glu Leu Gly Ala Glu Arg 100 105 110Ile Gly Arg Ile Val Gly Glu Ala Ala Arg Trp Gly Val Arg Glu Leu 115 120 125Phe Leu Thr Gly Gly Glu Pro Phe Leu Leu Pro Asp Ile Asp Thr Ile 130 135 140Ile Ala Thr Cys Val Lys Gln Leu Pro Thr Thr Val Leu Thr Asn Gly145 150 155 160Met Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Gly Arg Arg Ala Leu Glu Ser Leu Pro Arg 165 170 175Gly Leu Ala Leu Gln Ile Ser Leu Asp Ser Ala Thr Pro Glu Leu His 180 185 190Asp Ala His Arg Gly Ala Gly Thr Trp Val Lys Ala Val Ala Gly Ile 195 200 205Arg Leu Ala Leu Ser Leu Gly Phe Arg Val Arg Val Ala Ala Thr Val 210 215 220Ala Ser Pro Ala Pro Gly Glu Leu Thr Ala Phe His Asp Phe Leu Asp225 230 235 240Gly Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro Gly Asp Gln Leu Val Arg Pro Ile Ala Leu 245 250 255Glu Gly Ala Ala Ser Gln Gly Val Ala Leu Thr Arg Glu Ser Leu Val 260 265 270Pro Glu Val Thr Val Thr Ala Asp Gly Val Tyr Trp His Pro Val Ala 275 280 285Ala Thr Asp Glu Arg Ala Leu Val Thr Arg Thr Val Glu Pro Leu Thr 290 295 300Pro Ala Leu Asp Met Val Ser Arg Leu Phe Ala Glu Gln Trp Thr Arg305 310 315 320Ala Ala Glu Glu Ala Ala Leu Phe Pro Cys Ala 325 3303357DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 33cgtgccaccg cagaccagat cggcacgcag acaacgcaaa tcgcggccat caaagcc 573419PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 34Arg Ala Thr Ala Asp Gln Ile Gly Thr Gln Thr Thr Gln Ile Ala Ala1 5 10 15Ile Lys Ala351140DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 35atgacgatct ccgatgtacc cacccagacg ctgcccgccg aaggcgaaat cggcctgata 60gacgtcggct cgctgcaact ggaaagcggg gcggtgatcg acgatgtctg tatcgccgtg 120caacgctggg gcaaattgtc gcccgcacgg gacaacgtgg tggtggtctt gcacgcgctc 180accggcgact cgcacatcac tggacccgcc ggacccggcc accccacccc cggctggtgg 240gacggggtgg ccgggccgag tgcgccgatt gacaccaccc gctggtgcgc ggtagctacc 300aatgtgctcg gcggctgccg cggctccacc gggcccagct cgcttgcccg cgacggaaag 360ccttggggct caagatttcc gctgatctcg atacgtgacc aggtgcaggc ggacgtcgcg 420gcgctggccg cgctgggcat caccgaggtc gccgccgtcg tcggcggctc catgggcggc 480gcccgggccc tggaatgggt ggtcggctac ccggatcggg tccgagccgg attgctgctg 540gcggcggtcg gtcgtgccac cgcagaccag atcggcacgc agacaacgca aatcgcggcc 600atcaaagccg acccggactg gcagagcggc gactaccacg agacggggag ggcaccagac 660gccgggctgc gactcgcccg ccgcttcgcg cacctcacct accgcggcga gatcgagctc 720gacacccggt tcgccaacca caaccagggc aacgaggatc cgacggccgg cgggcgctac 780gcggtgcaaa gttatctgga acaccaagga gacaaactgt tatcccggtt cgacgccggc 840agctacgtga ttctcaccga ggcgctcaac agccacgacg tcggccgcgg ccgcggcggg 900gtctccgcgg ctctgcgcgc ctgcccggtg ccggtggtgg tgggcggcat cacctccgac 960cggctctacc cgctgcgcct gcagcaggag ctggccgacc tgctgccggg ctgcgccggg 1020ctgcgagtcg tcgagtcggt ctacggacac gacggcttcc tggtggaaac cgaggccgtg 1080ggcgaattga tccgccagac actgggattg gctgatcgtg aaggcgcgtg tcggcggtga 114036379PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 36Met Thr Ile Ser Asp Val Pro Thr Gln Thr Leu Pro Ala Glu Gly Glu1 5 10 15Ile Gly Leu Ile Asp Val Gly Ser Leu Gln Leu Glu Ser Gly Ala Val 20 25 30Ile Asp Asp Val Cys Ile Ala Val Gln Arg Trp Gly Lys Leu Ser Pro 35 40 45Ala Arg Asp Asn Val Val Val Val Leu His Ala Leu Thr Gly Asp Ser 50 55 60His Ile Thr Gly Pro Ala Gly Pro Gly His Pro Thr Pro Gly Trp Trp65 70 75 80Asp Gly Val Ala Gly Pro Ser Ala Pro Ile Asp Thr Thr Arg Trp Cys 85 90 95Ala Val Ala Thr Asn Val Leu Gly Gly Cys Arg Gly Ser Thr Gly Pro 100 105 110Ser Ser Leu Ala Arg Asp Gly Lys Pro Trp Gly Ser Arg Phe Pro Leu 115 120 125Ile Ser Ile Arg Asp Gln Val Gln Ala Asp Val Ala Ala Leu Ala Ala 130 135 140Leu Gly Ile Thr Glu Val Ala Ala Val Val Gly Gly Ser Met Gly Gly145 150 155 160Ala Arg Ala Leu Glu Trp Val Val Gly Tyr Pro Asp Arg Val Arg Ala 165 170 175Gly Leu Leu Leu Ala Val Gly Ala Arg Ala Thr Ala Asp Gln Ile Gly 180 185 190Thr Gln Thr Thr Gln Ile Ala Ala Ile Lys Ala Asp Pro Asp Trp Gln 195 200 205Ser Gly Asp Tyr His Glu Thr Gly Arg Ala Pro Asp Ala Gly Leu Arg 210 215 220Leu Ala Arg Arg Phe Ala His Leu Thr Tyr Arg Gly Glu Ile Glu Leu225 230 235 240Asp Thr Arg Phe Ala Asn His Asn Gln Gly Asn Glu Asp Pro Thr Ala 245 250 255Gly Gly Arg Tyr Ala Val Gln Ser Tyr Leu Glu His Gln Gly Asp Lys 260 265 270Leu Leu Ser Arg Phe Asp Ala Gly Ser Tyr Val Ile Leu Thr Glu Ala 275 280 285Leu Asn Ser His Asp Val Gly Arg Gly Arg Gly Gly Val Ser Ala Ala 290 295 300Leu Arg Ala Cys Pro Val Pro Val Val Val Gly Gly Ile Thr Ser Asp305 310 315 320Arg Leu Tyr Pro Leu Arg Leu Gln Gln Glu Leu Ala Asp Leu Leu Pro 325 330 335Gly Cys Ala Gly Leu Arg Val Val Glu Ser Val Tyr Gly His Asp Gly 340 345 350Phe Leu Val Glu Thr Glu Ala Val Gly Glu Leu Ile Arg Gln Thr Leu 355 360 365Gly Leu Ala Asp Arg Glu Gly Ala Cys Arg Arg 370 3753757DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 37cgcaccgccg aggaacgcgc caacgcggtt cgcgggcggg ccgattcgct gcgccgt 573819PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 38Arg Thr Ala Glu Glu Arg Ala Asn Ala Val Arg Gly Arg Ala Asp Ser1 5 10 15Leu Arg Arg393618DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 39gtgtacctca agagtctgac gttgaagggc ttcaagtcct tcgccgcgcc gacgacttta 60cgcttcgagc cgggcattac ggccgtcgtt gggcccaacg gctccggcaa atccaatgtg 120gtcgatgccc tggcgtgggt gatgggggag cagggggcaa agacgctgcg cggcggcaag 180atggaagacg tcatcttcgc cggcacctcg tcgcgtgcgc cgctgggccg cgccgaagtc 240accgttagca tcgacaactc cgacaacgca ctgcctatcg aatacaccga ggtgtcgatc 300acccgaagaa tgtttcgcga cggtgccagc gaatacgaaa tcaacggcag cagttgccgt 360ttgatggatg tgcaggagtt gctgagcgac tccggcatcg gccgtgagat gcatgtgatt 420gttgggcaag ggaagctcga ggagatcttg cagtcgcggc ctgaggatcg gcgggcgttc 480atcgaggaag ccgccggtgt gctcaagcat cgcaagcgca aggaaaaagc tctgcgcaaa 540ctcgacacga tggcggcgaa cctggcccgg ctcaccgatc tgaccaccga gctccggcgt 600caactcaaac cgctgggccg gcaggccgag

gcggcccagc gtgccgcggc catccaagcc 660gatctgcgcg acgcccggct gcgcctggcg gccgacgact tggtaagccg cagagccgaa 720cgggaagcgg tctttcaggc cgaggctgcg atgcgccgcg agcatgacga ggccgccgcc 780cggctggcgg tggcatccga ggagctggcc gcgcatgagt ccgcggtcgc cgaactctcg 840acgcgggccg agtcgatcca gcacacttgg ttcgggctgt ctgcgctggc cgaacgggtg 900gacgctacgg tgcgcatcgc cagcgaacgc gcccatcatc tcgatatcga gccggtagcg 960gtcagcgaca ccgaccccag aaagcccgag gagctagaag ccgaggccca gcaggtggcc 1020gtcgccgagc aacaactgtt agcggagctg gacgcggcgc gtgcccgact cgatgctgcc 1080cgtgcagagc tggccgaccg ggagcgccgc gccgccgagg ccgaccgggc acacctggcg 1140gcggtccggg aggaggcgga ccgccgtgag ggactggcgc ggctggctgg ccaggtggag 1200accatgcggg cgcgtgtcga atcgatcgat gagagcgtgg cacggttgtc cgagcggatc 1260gaggatgccg caatgcgcgc ccagcagacc cgagccgagt tcgaaaccgt gcagggccgc 1320atcggtgaac tggatcaagg cgaggtcggc ctggatgagc accacgagcg tactgtggcc 1380gcgttgcggt tggccgacga acgcgtcgcc gagctgcaat ccgccgaacg cgccgccgaa 1440cgccaggtgg catcgctacg ggctcgcatc gatgcgctcg cagtggggct acagcgcaag 1500gacggcgcgg cgtggctggc gcacaatcgc agtggcgcag ggcttttcgg ttcgatcgcc 1560caattggtga aggtacgttc cggctatgaa gcggcactgg ccgcggcgct cgggccggcg 1620gccgacgcac ttgcggtgga cggcctgact gccgcgggta gtgccgtcag cgcactcaaa 1680caagccgacg gcggtcgcgc ggtcctcgtg ctgagtgact ggccggcccc gcaagccccc 1740caatccgcct cgggggagat gctgcctagc ggcgcccagt gggccctaga cctggtcgag 1800tctccaccgc agttggttgg cgcgatgatc gccatgcttt cgggtgtcgc ggtggtcaac 1860gacctgactg aggcaatggg cctggtcgag attcgtccgg agctacgcgc ggtcaccgtt 1920gacggtgatc tggtgggcgc cggctgggtc agcggcggat cggaccgcaa gctgtccacc 1980ttggaggtca cctccgagat cgacaaggcc aggagtgagc tggccgctgc cgaggcgctg 2040gcggcgcaat tgaatgcggc cctggccggt gcgctgaccg agcagtccgc ccgccaggac 2100gcggccgagc aagccttggc cgcgcttaac gaatccgaca cggccatctc ggcgatgtac 2160gagcagctgg gccgcctcgg gcaggaggcc cgcgcggcgg aagaagagtg gaaccggttg 2220ctgcagcagc gtacggaaca ggaagccgtg cgcacacaga ctctcgacga cgtcatacaa 2280cttgagaccc agctgcgtaa ggcccaggag acccaacggg tgcaggtggc ccaaccgatc 2340gaccgccagg cgatcagtgc cgctgccgat cgcgcccgcg gtgtcgaagt ggaagcccgg 2400ctggcggtgc gcaccgccga ggaacgcgcc aacgcggttc gcgggcgggc cgattcgctg 2460cgccgtgcgg cagcggcgga acgtgaggcg cgggtgcggg ctcagcaagc acgcgccgca 2520agactgcatg cggccgcggt ggccgcagcg gtcgccgact gcggacggct gctggccggg 2580cggttgcacc gggcggtgga cggggcgtcg caactgcgcg acgcgtcggc cgcgcaacgt 2640cagcagcggt tagcggcgat ggccgcggtg cgcgacgagg tgaacacgct gagcgcccga 2700gtgggggaac tcaccgattc gctgcaccgc gacgagctgg ctaacgcgca ggcggcgctg 2760cgtatcgagc agcttgagca gatggtgcta gagcagttcg gaatggcgcc ggccgacttg 2820atcaccgaat acggtccaca tgtggcgcta ccaccgaccg agctcgagat ggctgagttc 2880gagcaagccc gcgaacgcgg cgagcaggtg attgcgcccg cccccatgcc gttcgaccgg 2940gttacccagg agcgccgggc caaacgcgcc gagcgtgcgc ttgccgagtt gggcagggtc 3000aacccgctgg cgctcgaaga gtttgctgcc ttggaggagc gctacaattt cctgtccacc 3060caactcgagg atgtcaaggc tgcccgcaag gatctgctgg gcgtcgtcgc cgatgttgac 3120gcccgcatcc tgcaggtgtt caatgacgcg ttcgtagacg tggaacgcga atttcgcggc 3180gtgttcaccg cattgttccc cggtggtgaa ggacggctgc ggctgaccga gcccgacgac 3240atgctcacca ccggcatcga ggtcgaagcc cgcccgccgg gcaagaagat tacccgactg 3300tctttgctct ccggtggcga gaaggcgctg accgcggtgg cgatgctggt cgcgatcttt 3360cgtgcccgtc catcgccgtt ctacatcatg gacgaggtgg aggccgccct cgacgacgtg 3420aacctgcgcc gactgctcag cctgttcgaa cagctgcgag agcagtcgca gatcatcatc 3480atcacccacc agaagccgac gatggaggtc gcggacgcac tgtacggcgt aaccatgcag 3540aacgacggca tcaccgcggt catctcgcag cgcatgcgcg gtcagcaggt ggatcagctg 3600gttaccaatt cctcgtag 3618401205PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 40Met Tyr Leu Lys Ser Leu Thr Leu Lys Gly Phe Lys Ser Phe Ala Ala1 5 10 15Pro Thr Thr Leu Arg Phe Glu Pro Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Val Gly Pro 20 25 30Asn Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Asn Val Val Asp Ala Leu Ala Trp Val Met 35 40 45Gly Glu Gln Gly Ala Lys Thr Leu Arg Gly Gly Lys Met Glu Asp Val 50 55 60Ile Phe Ala Gly Thr Ser Ser Arg Ala Pro Leu Gly Arg Ala Glu Val65 70 75 80Thr Val Ser Ile Asp Asn Ser Asp Asn Ala Leu Pro Ile Glu Tyr Thr 85 90 95Glu Val Ser Ile Thr Arg Arg Met Phe Arg Asp Gly Ala Ser Glu Tyr 100 105 110Glu Ile Asn Gly Ser Ser Cys Arg Leu Met Asp Val Gln Glu Leu Leu 115 120 125Ser Asp Ser Gly Ile Gly Arg Glu Met His Val Ile Val Gly Gln Gly 130 135 140Lys Leu Glu Glu Ile Leu Gln Ser Arg Pro Glu Asp Arg Arg Ala Phe145 150 155 160Ile Glu Glu Ala Ala Gly Val Leu Lys His Arg Lys Arg Lys Glu Lys 165 170 175Ala Leu Arg Lys Leu Asp Thr Met Ala Ala Asn Leu Ala Arg Leu Thr 180 185 190Asp Leu Thr Thr Glu Leu Arg Arg Gln Leu Lys Pro Leu Gly Arg Gln 195 200 205Ala Glu Ala Ala Gln Arg Ala Ala Ala Ile Gln Ala Asp Leu Arg Asp 210 215 220Ala Arg Leu Arg Leu Ala Ala Asp Asp Leu Val Ser Arg Arg Ala Glu225 230 235 240Arg Glu Ala Val Phe Gln Ala Glu Ala Ala Met Arg Arg Glu His Asp 245 250 255Glu Ala Ala Ala Arg Leu Ala Val Ala Ser Glu Glu Leu Ala Ala His 260 265 270Glu Ser Ala Val Ala Glu Leu Ser Thr Arg Ala Glu Ser Ile Gln His 275 280 285Thr Trp Phe Gly Leu Ser Ala Leu Ala Glu Arg Val Asp Ala Thr Val 290 295 300Arg Ile Ala Ser Glu Arg Ala His His Leu Asp Ile Glu Pro Val Ala305 310 315 320Val Ser Asp Thr Asp Pro Arg Lys Pro Glu Glu Leu Glu Ala Glu Ala 325 330 335Gln Gln Val Ala Val Ala Glu Gln Gln Leu Leu Ala Glu Leu Asp Ala 340 345 350Ala Arg Ala Arg Leu Asp Ala Ala Arg Ala Glu Leu Ala Asp Arg Glu 355 360 365Arg Arg Ala Ala Glu Ala Asp Arg Ala His Leu Ala Ala Val Arg Glu 370 375 380Glu Ala Asp Arg Arg Glu Gly Leu Ala Arg Leu Ala Gly Gln Val Glu385 390 395 400Thr Met Arg Ala Arg Val Glu Ser Ile Asp Glu Ser Val Ala Arg Leu 405 410 415Ser Glu Arg Ile Glu Asp Ala Ala Met Arg Ala Gln Gln Thr Arg Ala 420 425 430Glu Phe Glu Thr Val Gln Gly Arg Ile Gly Glu Leu Asp Gln Gly Glu 435 440 445Val Gly Leu Asp Glu His His Glu Arg Thr Val Ala Ala Leu Arg Leu 450 455 460Ala Asp Glu Arg Val Ala Glu Leu Gln Ser Ala Glu Arg Ala Ala Glu465 470 475 480Arg Gln Val Ala Ser Leu Arg Ala Arg Ile Asp Ala Leu Ala Val Gly 485 490 495Leu Gln Arg Lys Asp Gly Ala Ala Trp Leu Ala His Asn Arg Ser Gly 500 505 510Ala Gly Leu Phe Gly Ser Ile Ala Gln Leu Val Lys Val Arg Ser Gly 515 520 525Tyr Glu Ala Ala Leu Ala Ala Ala Leu Gly Pro Ala Ala Asp Ala Leu 530 535 540Ala Val Asp Gly Leu Thr Ala Ala Gly Ser Ala Val Ser Ala Leu Lys545 550 555 560Gln Ala Asp Gly Gly Arg Ala Val Leu Val Leu Ser Asp Trp Pro Ala 565 570 575Pro Gln Ala Pro Gln Ser Ala Ser Gly Glu Met Leu Pro Ser Gly Ala 580 585 590Gln Trp Ala Leu Asp Leu Val Glu Ser Pro Pro Gln Leu Val Gly Ala 595 600 605Met Ile Ala Met Leu Ser Gly Val Ala Val Val Asn Asp Leu Thr Glu 610 615 620Ala Met Gly Leu Val Glu Ile Arg Pro Glu Leu Arg Ala Val Thr Val625 630 635 640Asp Gly Asp Leu Val Gly Ala Gly Trp Val Ser Gly Gly Ser Asp Arg 645 650 655Lys Leu Ser Thr Leu Glu Val Thr Ser Glu Ile Asp Lys Ala Arg Ser 660 665 670Glu Leu Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Ala Ala Gln Leu Asn Ala Ala Leu 675 680 685Ala Gly Ala Leu Thr Glu Gln Ser Ala Arg Gln Asp Ala Ala Glu Gln 690 695 700Ala Leu Ala Ala Leu Asn Glu Ser Asp Thr Ala Ile Ser Ala Met Tyr705 710 715 720Glu Gln Leu Gly Arg Leu Gly Gln Glu Ala Arg Ala Ala Glu Glu Glu 725 730 735Trp Asn Arg Leu Leu Gln Gln Arg Thr Glu Gln Glu Ala Val Arg Thr 740 745 750Gln Thr Leu Asp Asp Val Ile Gln Leu Glu Thr Gln Leu Arg Lys Ala 755 760 765Gln Glu Thr Gln Arg Val Gln Val Ala Gln Pro Ile Asp Arg Gln Ala 770 775 780Ile Ser Ala Ala Ala Asp Arg Ala Arg Gly Val Glu Val Glu Ala Arg785 790 795 800Leu Ala Val Arg Thr Ala Glu Glu Arg Ala Asn Ala Val Arg Gly Arg 805 810 815Ala Asp Ser Leu Arg Arg Ala Ala Ala Ala Glu Arg Glu Ala Arg Val 820 825 830Arg Ala Gln Gln Ala Arg Ala Ala Arg Leu His Ala Ala Ala Val Ala 835 840 845Ala Ala Val Ala Asp Cys Gly Arg Leu Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu His Arg 850 855 860Ala Val Asp Gly Ala Ser Gln Leu Arg Asp Ala Ser Ala Ala Gln Arg865 870 875 880Gln Gln Arg Leu Ala Ala Met Ala Ala Val Arg Asp Glu Val Asn Thr 885 890 895Leu Ser Ala Arg Val Gly Glu Leu Thr Asp Ser Leu His Arg Asp Glu 900 905 910Leu Ala Asn Ala Gln Ala Ala Leu Arg Ile Glu Gln Leu Glu Gln Met 915 920 925Val Leu Glu Gln Phe Gly Met Ala Pro Ala Asp Leu Ile Thr Glu Tyr 930 935 940Gly Pro His Val Ala Leu Pro Pro Thr Glu Leu Glu Met Ala Glu Phe945 950 955 960Glu Gln Ala Arg Glu Arg Gly Glu Gln Val Ile Ala Pro Ala Pro Met 965 970 975Pro Phe Asp Arg Val Thr Gln Glu Arg Arg Ala Lys Arg Ala Glu Arg 980 985 990Ala Leu Ala Glu Leu Gly Arg Val Asn Pro Leu Ala Leu Glu Glu Phe 995 1000 1005Ala Ala Leu Glu Glu Arg Tyr Asn Phe Leu Ser Thr Gln Leu Glu 1010 1015 1020Asp Val Lys Ala Ala Arg Lys Asp Leu Leu Gly Val Val Ala Asp 1025 1030 1035Val Asp Ala Arg Ile Leu Gln Val Phe Asn Asp Ala Phe Val Asp 1040 1045 1050Val Glu Arg Glu Phe Arg Gly Val Phe Thr Ala Leu Phe Pro Gly 1055 1060 1065Gly Glu Gly Arg Leu Arg Leu Thr Glu Pro Asp Asp Met Leu Thr 1070 1075 1080Thr Gly Ile Glu Val Glu Ala Arg Pro Pro Gly Lys Lys Ile Thr 1085 1090 1095Arg Leu Ser Leu Leu Ser Gly Gly Glu Lys Ala Leu Thr Ala Val 1100 1105 1110Ala Met Leu Val Ala Ile Phe Arg Ala Arg Pro Ser Pro Phe Tyr 1115 1120 1125Ile Met Asp Glu Val Glu Ala Ala Leu Asp Asp Val Asn Leu Arg 1130 1135 1140Arg Leu Leu Ser Leu Phe Glu Gln Leu Arg Glu Gln Ser Gln Ile 1145 1150 1155Ile Ile Ile Thr His Gln Lys Pro Thr Met Glu Val Ala Asp Ala 1160 1165 1170Leu Tyr Gly Val Thr Met Gln Asn Asp Gly Ile Thr Ala Val Ile 1175 1180 1185Ser Gln Arg Met Arg Gly Gln Gln Val Asp Gln Leu Val Thr Asn 1190 1195 1200Ser Ser 12054148DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 41ctgcacgcgc agaaggcgct gctggtgtgg ctgctggagc gctcatga 484216PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 42Arg Leu His Ala Gln Lys Ala Leu Leu Val Trp Leu Leu Glu Arg Ser1 5 10 1543924DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 43gtgatcaggc atttcctgcg cgacgacgat ctgtccccgg ccgaacaggc cgaggtgctc 60gagctcgcgg ccgagctgaa gaaagacccg gttagccgtc gtcccctgca agggccgcgc 120ggggtggcgg tcatcttcga caagaactcc acccgcaccc ggttctcctt cgagctgggc 180atcgcgcagc tgggcgggca tgccgtcgtc gtcgacagcg gcagcaccca gctgggccgc 240gacgaaaccc tgcaggacac cgcaaaggtg ttgtcccgct acgtcgatgc catcgtctgg 300cgaaccttcg gccaagagcg gctggacgcc atggcgtcgg tcgcgacggt gcccgtgatc 360aacgcgctct ccgatgagtt ccatccgtgt caggtgttgg ccgacctgca gaccatcgcc 420gaacgcaagg gggcgctgcg cggcctgagg ttgtcctact tcggcgacgg cgccaacaac 480atggcccact cgctgctgct cggcggggtc accgcgggta tccacgtcac cgtcgcggct 540cccgagggct tcctgcccga cccgtcggtg cgggccgcgg ccgagcgccg cgcccaggat 600accggcgcct cggtgactgt gaccgccgac gcccacgcgg ccgccgccgg cgccgacgtt 660ctggtcaccg acacctggac gtcgatgggc caggaaaacg acgggttgga ccgagtgaag 720ccgtttcggc cgtttcagct caactcgcga cttctggcgc tggccgactc ggatgccatc 780gtgttgcatt gcctgccggc ccatcgcggc gacgagatca ccgacgcggt gatggacggg 840ccggccagcg cggtgtggga cgaggccgaa aaccggctgc acgcgcagaa ggcgctgctg 900gtgtggctgc tggagcgctc atga 92444307PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 44Met Ile Arg His Phe Leu Arg Asp Asp Asp Leu Ser Pro Ala Glu Gln1 5 10 15Ala Glu Val Leu Glu Leu Ala Ala Glu Leu Lys Lys Asp Pro Val Ser 20 25 30Arg Arg Pro Leu Gln Gly Pro Arg Gly Val Ala Val Ile Phe Asp Lys 35 40 45Asn Ser Thr Arg Thr Arg Phe Ser Phe Glu Leu Gly Ile Ala Gln Leu 50 55 60Gly Gly His Ala Val Val Val Asp Ser Gly Ser Thr Gln Leu Gly Arg65 70 75 80Asp Glu Thr Leu Gln Asp Thr Ala Lys Val Leu Ser Arg Tyr Val Asp 85 90 95Ala Ile Val Trp Arg Thr Phe Gly Gln Glu Arg Leu Asp Ala Met Ala 100 105 110Ser Val Ala Thr Val Pro Val Ile Asn Ala Leu Ser Asp Glu Phe His 115 120 125Pro Cys Gln Val Leu Ala Asp Leu Gln Thr Ile Ala Glu Arg Lys Gly 130 135 140Ala Leu Arg Gly Leu Arg Leu Ser Tyr Phe Gly Asp Gly Ala Asn Asn145 150 155 160Met Ala His Ser Leu Leu Leu Gly Gly Val Thr Ala Gly Ile His Val 165 170 175Thr Val Ala Ala Pro Glu Gly Phe Leu Pro Asp Pro Ser Val Arg Ala 180 185 190Ala Ala Glu Arg Arg Ala Gln Asp Thr Gly Ala Ser Val Thr Val Thr 195 200 205Ala Asp Ala His Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Ala Asp Val Leu Val Thr Asp 210 215 220Thr Trp Thr Ser Met Gly Gln Glu Asn Asp Gly Leu Asp Arg Val Lys225 230 235 240Pro Phe Arg Pro Phe Gln Leu Asn Ser Arg Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp 245 250 255Ser Asp Ala Ile Val Leu His Cys Leu Pro Ala His Arg Gly Asp Glu 260 265 270Ile Thr Asp Ala Val Met Asp Gly Pro Ala Ser Ala Val Trp Asp Glu 275 280 285Ala Glu Asn Arg Leu His Ala Gln Lys Ala Leu Leu Val Trp Leu Leu 290 295 300Glu Arg Ser3054566DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 45cgctggaccg acgaaacctt cggcgacatc ggcggcgccg gcggcggcgt gagcggacat 60cgcggg 664622PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 46Arg Trp Thr Asp Glu Thr Phe Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly1 5 10 15Val Ser Gly His Arg Gly 2047765DNAMycobacterium tuberculosis 47atgagcggcg agacaaccag gctgaccgaa ccgcaactac gtgagctggc cgcgcgcgga 60gctgccgaac tcgacggcgc caccgccacc gacatgttgc gctggaccga cgaaaccttc 120ggcgacatcg gcggcgccgg cggcggcgtg agcggacatc gcgggtggac aacgtgcaac 180tacgtagttg cttccaacat ggctgatgcg gtgctggtgg atctggccgc caaggtgcga 240ccgggcgtac cggtcatctt tcttgatacc ggctaccact tcgtcgaaac aatcggcacc 300agagatgcga tcgagtccgt ctatgacgtc cgggtgctca atgtcactcc ggagcacaca 360gtggccgagc aggacgaact gctgggcaag gacttgttcg cccgcaaccc ccatgaatgc 420tgccggttgc gcaaggtcgt tcccctgggc aagacgctgc gtggctactc cgcgtgggtg 480accgggctac ggcgggtcga tgcaccgacc cgggccaatg ccccgctggt cagcttcgat 540gagacgttca aactagtgaa ggtcaacccg ctggcggcgt ggaccgacca agatgtgcag 600gaatacattg ccgacaacga cgtgctggtt aatccgcttg tgcgggaagg ctatccgtcg 660atcggttgcg ctccgtgcac agccaaaccc gccgaaggcg ccgacccgcg cagcggacgc 720tggcaggggc tggccaagac cgaatgcggg ttgcacgcct cgtga 76548254PRTMycobacterium tuberculosis 48Met Ser Gly Glu Thr Thr Arg Leu Thr Glu Pro Gln Leu Arg Glu Leu1 5 10 15Ala Ala Arg Gly Ala Ala Glu Leu Asp Gly Ala Thr Ala Thr Asp Met 20 25 30Leu Arg Trp Thr Asp Glu Thr Phe Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Ala Gly Gly 35 40 45Gly Val Ser Gly His Arg Gly Trp Thr Thr Cys Asn Tyr Val Val Ala 50 55 60Ser Asn

Met Ala Asp Ala Val Leu Val Asp Leu Ala Ala Lys Val Arg65 70 75 80Pro Gly Val Pro Val Ile Phe Leu Asp Thr Gly Tyr His Phe Val Glu 85 90 95Thr Ile Gly Thr Arg Asp Ala Ile Glu Ser Val Tyr Asp Val Arg Val 100 105 110Leu Asn Val Thr Pro Glu His Thr Val Ala Glu Gln Asp Glu Leu Leu 115 120 125Gly Lys Asp Leu Phe Ala Arg Asn Pro His Glu Cys Cys Arg Leu Arg 130 135 140Lys Val Val Pro Leu Gly Lys Thr Leu Arg Gly Tyr Ser Ala Trp Val145 150 155 160Thr Gly Leu Arg Arg Val Asp Ala Pro Thr Arg Ala Asn Ala Pro Leu 165 170 175Val Ser Phe Asp Glu Thr Phe Lys Leu Val Lys Val Asn Pro Leu Ala 180 185 190Ala Trp Thr Asp Gln Asp Val Gln Glu Tyr Ile Ala Asp Asn Asp Val 195 200 205Leu Val Asn Pro Leu Val Arg Glu Gly Tyr Pro Ser Ile Gly Cys Ala 210 215 220Pro Cys Thr Ala Lys Pro Ala Glu Gly Ala Asp Pro Arg Ser Gly Arg225 230 235 240Trp Gln Gly Leu Ala Lys Thr Glu Cys Gly Leu His Ala Ser 245 250

Claims

1. An isolated polypeptide molecule that consists of an immunogenic portion of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen, wherein said antigen consisting of: a) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; b) an amino acid sequence encoded by a coding region of a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; c) an amino acid sequence encoded by a complement of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; d) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof under high stringency conditions, wherein said conditions comprise 1.times.SSC, 1% SDS and 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C.; or e) an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof

2. The isolated polypeptide molecule of claim 1, wherein the isolated polypeptide molecule stimulates an immunogenic specific Tuberculosis Bacterium (TB) response in a host.

3. An isolated polypeptide molecule that consists of an immunogenic portion of a M. tuberculosis antigen, wherein said antigen having greater than or equal to about 70% similarity with a sequence consisting of: a) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; b) an amino acid sequence encoded by a coding region of a nucleic acid molecule of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; c) an amino acid sequence encoded by a complement of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof; d) an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or combination thereof, under high stringency conditions, wherein said conditions comprise 1.times.SSC, 1% SDS and 0.1-2 mg/ml denatured calf thymus DNA at 65.degree. C.; or e) an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or combination thereof

4. The isolated polypeptide molecule of claim 3, wherein the isolated polypeptide molecule stimulates an immunogenic specific TB response in a host.

5. The isolated polypeptide molecule of claim 3, wherein the nucleic acid molecule has greater than or equal to about 80% similarity with said sequences.

6. The isolated polypeptide molecule of claim 5, wherein the nucleic acid molecule has greater than or equal to about 90% similarity with said sequences.

7. A fusion protein comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) at least one of the polypeptides of claim 1; b) at least two of the polypeptides of claim 1; c) at least one polypeptide of claim 1 and a known M. tuberculosis antigen; and d) at least one polypeptide of claim 1 and an M. tuberculosis antigen presented on a MHC Class-2 molecule.

8. A composition that comprises the polypeptide sequence of claim 1 and a physiologically acceptable carrier.

9. The composition of claim 8, further including an immune response enhancer.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the immune response enhancer is an adjuvant or another TB antigen.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the composition is a vaccine composition.

12. The composition of claim 8, wherein the adjuvant includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of 3D-MPL and QS21.

13. The composition of claim 8, wherein the composition is formulated in an oil and water emulsion.

14. The composition of claim 9, wherein the immune response enhancer is an immunostimulatory cytokine or chemokine

15. A kit for diagnosing the presence or absence of M. tuberculosis infection in a person, the kit comprises one or more reagents for detecting the polypeptide molecule of claim 1.

16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of claim 1, and a carrier.