Compounds and methods for immunotherapy and diagnosis of tuberculosis

A polypeptide comprising an immunogenic portion of an M. tuberculosis antigen, or a variant of said antigen that differs only in conservative substitutions and/or modifications, wherein said antigen has an N-terminal sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) Asp-Pro-Pro-Asp-Pro-His-Gln-Xaa-Asp-Met-Thr-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Pro-Gly-Gly-Arg-Arg-Xaa-Phe;
• (SEQ ID No. 129) and
• (b) Xaa-Tyr-Ile-Ala-Tyr-Xaa-Thr-Thr-Ala-Gly-Ile-Val-Pro-Gly-Lys-Ile-Asn-Val-His-Leu-Val;
• (SEQ ID No. 137), wherein Xaa may be any amino acid.

A vaccine comprising:

• a polypeptide having an N-terminal sequence selected from the group consisting of sequences recited in SEQ ID NO:
• 134 and 135;
• and
• a non-specific immune response enhancer.

A vaccine comprising:

• one or more polypeptides encoded by a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:
• 3. 11, 12, 140, 141, 156-160, 189-193, 199, 200, 203, 215-225, 237, 239, 261-276, 292, 293, 303-308, 310-315, 317, 321, 323, 325-327, 330-332, 334, 336, 338, 340 and 342-347, the complements of said sequences, and DNA sequences that hybridize to a sequence recited in SEQ ID Nos.:
• 3, 11, 12, 140, 141, 156-160, 189-193, 199, 200, 203, 215-225, 237, 239, 261-276, 292, 293, 303-308, 310-315, 317, 321. 323, 325-327, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340 and 342-347;
• and
• a non-specific immune response enhancer.

A method for detecting tuberculosis in a patient, comprising:

• (a) contacting dermal cells of a patient with a polypeptide having an N-terminal sequence selected from the group consisting of sequences recited in SEQ ID NO:
• 134 and 135;
• and
• (b) detecting an immune response on the patient's skin and therefrom detecting tuberculosis in the patient.

A method for detecting tuberculosis in a patient, comprising:

• (a) contacting dermal cells of a patient with one or more polypeptides encoded by a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:
• 3, 11, 12, 140, 141, 156-160, 189-193, 199, 200, 203, 215-225, 237, 239, 261-276, 292, 293, 303-308, 310-315, 317, 321, 323, 325-327, 330-332, 334, 336, 338, 340 and 342-347, the complements of said sequences, and DNA sequences that hybridize to a sequence recited in SEQ ID Nos.:
• 3, 11, 12, 140, 141, 156-160, 189-193, 199, 200, 203, 215-225, 237, 239, 261-276, 292, 293, 303-308, 310-315, 317, 321, 323, 325-327, 330-332, 334, 336, 338, 340 and 342-347;
• and
• (b) detecting an immune response on the patient's skin and therefrom detecting tuberculosis in the patient.

A diagnostic kit comprising:

• (a) a polypeptide having an N-terminal sequence selected from the group consisting of sequences recited in SEQ ID NO:
• 134 and 135;
• and
• (b) apparatus sufficient to contact said polypeptide with the dermal cells of a patient.

A diagnostic kit comprising:

• (a) a polypeptide encoded by a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos.:
• 3, 11, 12, 140, 141, 156-160, 189-193, 199, 200, 203, 215-225, 237, 239, 261-276, 292, 293, 303-308, 310-315, 317, 321, 323. 325-327, 330-332, 334, 336, 338, 340 and 342-347, the complements of said sequences, and DNA sequences that hybridize to a sequence recited in SEQ ID Nos.:
• 3, 11, 12, 140, 141, 156-160, 189-193, 199, 200, 203, 215-225, 237, 239, 261-276, 292, 293, 303-308, 310-315, 317, 321, 323, 325-327, 330-332, 334, 336, 338, 340 and 342-347;
• and
• (b) apparatus sufficient to contact said polypeptide with the dermal cells of a patient.