Heat shock proteins from mycobacterium leprae and uses thereof

A method of treating a subject with an atopic condition comprising:

• administering an effective amount of an isolated heat shock protein having an amino acid sequence at least 96 percent similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:
• 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 under conditions effective to treat the subject having the atopic condition.

A method of inducing or enhancing an immune response against an antigen in a subject comprising:

• administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an adjuvant, wherein said adjuvant comprises an isolated heat shock protein having an amino acid sequence at least 96 percent similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:
• 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15, and an antigen under conditions effective to induce or enhance an immune response against an antigen in the subject.

An isolated polynucleotide encoding a heat shock protein, said heat shock protein having an amino acid sequence at least 96 percent similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:

• 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15.

A fusion protein comprising:

• a heat shock protein having an amino acid sequence at least 96 percent similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:
• 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 and
• an antigen.

An antibody raised against an isolated heat shock protein having an amino acid sequence at least 96 percent similar to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:

• 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15.