Protein antigens of Mycobacterium leprae

J. E. Clark-Curtiss, J. E.R. Thole, M. Sathish, B. A. Bosecker, S. Sela, E. F. de Carvalho, R. E. Esser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Protein antigens of Mycobacterium leprae have been identified by screening the λgt11, pYA626 and pHC79::M. leprae genomic libraries with pooled sera from leprosy patients and with antiserum to M. leprae cell wall protein (CWP) aggregate. Immunological screening of the λgt11 library with pooled sera from 21 lepromatous (LL) leprosy patients resulted in the identification of 19 antigens that are apparently different from previously identified M. leprae antigens. Five additional antigens were identified by screening the λgt11 library with pooled sera from 30 borderline tuberculoid or tuberculoid patients. Four other antigens were identified by screening the λgt11 library with anti-CWP. Two groups of recombinant cosmids were identified by screening the pHC79 library with LL patients' sera: one group specified proteins that reacted with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the 65-kDa protein and against the 18-kDa protein; the other group specified a 15-kDa protein that did not react with any of the mAb that were tested. One pYA626 clone also specified a 15-kDa protein that reacted with LL patients' sera, but did not react with any mAb. Genes specifying several of these antigens have been subcloned into the Asd+ plasmid vector pYA292 and have been introduced into a Δcya Δcrp Δasd Salmonella typhimurium strain to evaluate the ability of individual M. leprae proteins to elicit immune responses against M. leprae infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)859-871
Number of pages13
JournalResearch in Microbiology
Volume141
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Immunological screening, Recombinant avirulent live vaccine
  • Mycobacterium leprae, Protein antigen, Leprosy, Salmonella
  • Plasmid stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

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