Characterization, sequence determination, and immunogenicity of a 64-kilodalton protein of Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressed in escherichia coli K-12
- 1 June 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Infection and Immunity
- Vol. 55 (6), 1466-1475
- https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.55.6.1466-1475.1987
Abstract
We report the DNA sequence of a previously cloned Mycobacterium bovis BCG gene encoding an immunogenic 64-kilodalton protein. This protein, MbaA, was purified from overproducing Escherichia coli K-12 cells, and the presence of antibodies to MbaA in human sera was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In about 80% of serum samples from tuberculosis patients and in about 60% of samples from BCG-vaccinated individuals, significant levels of anti-MbaA antibodies were found. Surprisingly, in about 30% of the control serum samples obtained from children, anti-MbaA antibodies were also observed. Guinea pigs sensitized with M. bovis BCG or MbaA showed a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction after challenge with purified MbaA, supporting the previously observed strong reactivity of human T-cell clones with this, for mycobacteria, common antigen.This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit: