title: T cell responses of normal individuals towards recombinant protein antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: Recombinant beta-galactosidase fusion proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis were purified by affinity chromatography and used for stimulation of unselected T lymphocytes freshly isolated from healthy individuals. It was found that the 12-kDa, 19-kDa, 65-kDa and 71-kDa recombinant (r) proteins tested stimulated T cells from healthy individuals in an antigen-specific way. These data demonstrate that it is feasible to screen purified r-proteins with unselected T cell populations. The existence of T cells with reactivity to these antigens in healthy individuals suggests T cell activation independent from clinical disease and hence that these proteins are not indicative for active tuberculosis.
authors: Max-Planck-Institute for Immunobiology, Freiburg, FRG.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Munk
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Schoel
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D008934:Mitogens; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins