Fusion proteins of mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and their uses

Abstract

The present invention relates to fusion proteins containing at least two Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. In particular, it relates to bi-fusion proteins which contain two individual M. tuberculosis antigens, tri-fusion proteins which contain three M. tuberculosis antigens, tetra-fusion proteins which contain four M. tuberculosis antigens, and penta-fusion proteins which contain five M. tuberculosis antigens, and methods for their use in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis infection.

1 . A purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 28, said amino acid sequence may optionally contain one or more conservative amino acid substitutions.  
     
     
         2 . A purified polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to a second polynucleotide which is complementary to a nucleotide sequence that encodes the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS.2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 28, said amino acid sequence induces an immune response to  M. tuberculosis.    
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  which is a soluble polypeptide.  
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  which is produced by a recombinant DNA method.  
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  which is produced by a chemical synthetic method.  
     
     
         6 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  which induces an antibody response.  
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  which induces a T cell response.  
     
     
         8 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  which is fused with a second heterologous polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . A method of preventing tuberculosis, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A method of preventing tuberculosis, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         11 . A method of preventing tuberculosis, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide of  claim 2.