Molecular characterization and T-cell-stimulatory capacity of Mycobacterium leprae antigen T5.

Human T-cell clones with reactivity to Mycobacterium leprae as tools for the characterization of potential vaccines against leprosy.

T-cell clones with the T4 phenotype were established from patients with tuberculoid leprosy. The antigen reactivity of these clones ranged from stringent specificity for Mycobacterium leprae to broad cross-reactivity with other mycobacteria. Killed M. leprae had a weak stimulatory capacity which could be enhanced by ultrasonication. Among the three candidate antileprosy vaccines, M. leprae, M. ...

leprae antigen T 5 . T - cell - stimulatory capacity of Mycobacterium

Immunochemical characterization of a protein associated with Mycobacterium leprae cell wall.

A panel of nine monoclonal antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae were used to characterize a protein antigen of the bacillus. Two monoclonal antibodies (IVD8 and IIIE9) were specific for M. leprae and reacted with an epitope (CWPa) present on a protein molecule associated with the cell wall fraction of M. leprae. This protein, designated cell wall-associated protein (CWP), lost its immunoreactivit...

Immunopathological evaluation of recombinant mycobacterial antigen Hsp65 expressed in Lactococcus lactis as a novel vaccine candidate

Bovine tuberculosis (TBB) is a zoonotic disease distributed worldwide and is of great importance for public health and the livestock industry. Several experimental vaccines against this disease have been evaluated in recent years, yielding varying results. An example is the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which has been used extensively in humans and tested in cattle showing mixed resul...

Cloning and characterization of MAP2191 gene, a mammalian cell entry antigen of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

The aim of this study is to identify, clone and express a Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis specific immunogenic antigen candidate, in order to develop better reagents for diagnosis and vaccines for the protection of the host. Therefore, MAP2191 gene (a member of MAPmce5 operon) from MAP, was isolated and characterized by Bioinformatics tools and <e...