Bacterial-derived molecules and therapeutic and diagnostic uses therefor

An isolated polypeptide comprising a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 13, 15, 17, 19 or 21, wherein said polypeptide exhibits reactivity of from 5 to 52.5% with antisera obtained from subject that have been infected by a Mycobacterium species and wherein said polypeptide exhibits a reactivity of 0% with sera obtain from subjects that have not been previously infected by a Mycobacterium species.

An isolated polypeptide comprising a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or having an amino acid sequence that is at least 70 identical to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, wherein said polypeptide exhibits reactivity of from 35 to 55% with antisera obtained from subjects that have been infected by a Mycobacterium species and wherein said polypeptide exhibits a reactivity of 5 to 25% with sera obtained from subjects that have not been previously infected by a Mycobacterium species.

An isolated polypeptide comprising a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 11, wherein said polypeptide exhibits reactivity of from 35 to 55% with antisera obtained from subjects that have been infected by a Mycobacterium species and wherein said polypeptide exhibits a reactivity of 5 to 25% with sera obtained from subjects that have not been previously infected by a Mycobacterium species.

A composition comprising at least two polypeptides having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 4, 6, 8 or 10, or having an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 4, 6, 8 or 10, wherein said composition exhibits reactivity of more than 90% with antisera obtained from subjects that have been infected by a Mycobacterium species.

A composition comprising at least two polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 13, 15, 17, 19 or 21, wherein said composition exhibits reactivity of at least 60% with antisera obtained from subjects that have been infected by a Mycobacterium species and wherein said composition exhibits a reactivity of 0 to 5% with sera obtained from subjects that have not been previously infected by a Mycobacterium species.