title: Understanding the biology of 16 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: scope in diagnosis, vaccine design and therapy.
abstract: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are conserved and ubiquitous house keeping entities that act as molecular chaperones, which protect the cell from damage during stress. One such HSP, the 16 kDa antigen, from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has received considerable attention due to its importance in tuberculosis latency and immunodominant property. In this article, we discuss about the potential role of 16 kDa antigen of Mtb in latency, its expression, regulation, and implication in host immune response. We also highlight the scope of employing 16 kDa in early diagnosis, development of vaccine and as a potential drug target.
authors.affiliation: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Kaneez Fatima
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.forename: Javed Naim
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Agrewala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens