Polypeptide nucleic sequences exported from mycobacteria, vectors comprising same and uses for diagnosing and preventing tuberculosis

Abstract

Purified polynucleotides and polypeptides, and cells of M. smegmatis, M. bovis, M. bovis BCG, or M. africanum are provided.

1 - 74 . (canceled)  
     
     
         75 . A purified polynucleotide, comprising a nucleotide sequence chosen from: 
 a) SEQ ID NOS: 1, 8, 14, 25, 31, 33 and 35;    b) nucleotide 964 to nucleotide 1234, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO: 1;    c) a sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence defined in a) or b);    d) a sequence that exhibits at least 50% identity with a nucleotide sequence defined in a), b) or c); and    e) a fragment of at least 12 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence defined in a), b), or c.    
     
     
         76 . A purified polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence chosen from SEQ ID NOS: 1, 8, 14, 25, 31, 33 and 35.  
     
     
         77 . A purified polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide sequence according to  claim 75 .  
     
     
         78 . A purified polypeptide, comprising an amino acid sequence chosen from: 
 a) SEQ ID NO: 2 to 7, 10 to 13, 15 to 24, 26 to 30, 32, 34, 36 to 40 and 543,    b) a biologically active polypeptide fragment of a polypeptide defined in a) having at least 5 amino acids and capable of being exported and/or secreted by a mycobacterium, and/or of being induced or repressed during infection with the mycobacterium; and/or 
 capable of inducing, repressing or modulating, directly or indirectly, a mycobacterium virulence factor; and/or  
 capable of inducing an immunogenicity reaction directed against mycobacteria; and/or  
 capable of being recognized by an antibody which is specific for mycobacterium.  
   
     
     
         79 . A purified polynucleotide, comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide according to  claim 78 .  
     
     
         80 . A purified polynucleotide primer, comprising a polynucleotide sequence of at least 12 consecutive nucleotides of a polynucleotide according to  claim 75 .  
     
     
         81 . The purified polynucleotide primer according to  claim 80 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence is chosen from SEQ ID NO: 528 and SEQ ID NO: 529.  
     
     
         82 . A polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 75 , wherein the polynucleotide is labeled with a radioactive compound or with a nonradioactive compound.  
     
     
         83 . A polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 75 , wherein the polynucleotide is covalently or noncovalently immobilized on a support.  
     
     
         84 . The polynucleotide according to  claim 83 , wherein the nucleotide sequence is nucleotide 964 to nucleotide 1234, inclusive, of SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         85 . A recombinant cloning, expression and/or insertion vector, comprising a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 75 .  
     
     
         86 . A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector according to  claim 85 .  
     
     
         87 . The host cell according to  claim 86 , wherein the cell is the  E. coli  strain transformed with the plasmid pDP428 deposited on 28 Jan. 1997 at the CNCN under the No. I-1818, or the cell is of a strain of  M. tuberculosis, M. bovis  or  M. africanum.    
     
     
         88 . The host cell according to  claim 87 , wherein the cell is of a strain of  M. smegmatis, M. bovis, M. bovis  BCG, or  M. africanum.