[The role of some cellular components of bacterial parasites in determining the incidence of tuberculosis: studies on mycobacterial antigens, with special reference to mycobacterial immunoreactive ribosomal and secreted proteins].
Tuberculosis remains as major disease, affecting more than 20 million people. The elimination of the disease with vaccination, rapid diagnosis, and and efficient therapy is an important objective of our study. To realize the objective, the characterization of antigens is essential. We have chosen two kinds of antigens for our study, the ribosomal antigens and and an antigenic proteins secreted by mycobacteria. The biochemical and immunological characterization of ribosomal fraction was carried out. Ribosomal proteins were purified and assessed for DTH reaction. The N-terminal amino acids sequences were determined. Total structures of S19, S7 and S12 in 30S and L7/L12 in 50S subunits were elucidated. L7/L12 had 66% homology with analogue from S. griseus which showed GTPase activity in protein synthesis. This protein was secreted in culture medium and induced strong DTH. Secreted antigenic proteins are of great interest for us. Secreted antigens may be recognized rapidly by immune system and therefore may induce rapid and high level immune response. It is also expected that it may contain protective antigens, since live BCG protect disease more efficiently than heat killed BCG. We have determined and published the total structure of four proteins (MPB64, MPB70, MPB57 and alpha antigen). We attempted to utilize this antigen for the diagnosis and the design of vaccine. The structures of alpha antigens from M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. scrofulaceum, M. kansasii and BCG were determined and its potential for application to diagnosis was presented. Using the operon of M. kansasii, alpha antigen and V3 region of HIV-1 were expressed by recombinant BCG which induced CTL in mice.
Yamada
T
T
Nagasaki University, School of Dentistry, Japan.
Ohara
N
N
Matsumoto
S
S
Matsuo
T
T
Kitaura
H
H
Yukitake
H
H
Wada
N
N
Nishiyama
T
T
Naito
M
M
Kinomoto
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001426:Bacterial Proteins