Compounds and methods for immunotherapy and diagnosis of tuberculosis

Abstract

Compounds and methods for inducing protective immunity against tuberculosis are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one immunogenic portion of one or more M. tuberculosis proteins and DNA molecules encoding such polypeptides. Such compounds may be formulated into vaccines and/or pharmaceutical compositions for immunization against M. tuberculosis infection, or may be used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 107. 
     
     
         2 . A fusion protein comprising a first polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:107 and a second polypeptide. 
     
     
         3 . A composition comprising a polypeptide of  claim 1  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         6 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107, wherein the immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107 is at least 9 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         7 . A fusion protein comprising a first polypeptide comprising an immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107, wherein the immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107 is at least 9 amino acids in length and a second polypeptide. 
     
     
         8 . A composition comprising a polypeptide of  claim 6  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         11 . A fusion protein according to  claim 2 , where said second polypeptide is an  M. tuberculosis  antigen. 
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising a fusion protein of  claim 2  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         15 . A fusion protein according to  claim 7 , where said second polypeptide is an  M. tuberculosis  antigen. 
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising a fusion protein of  claim 7  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , where the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         19 . An isolated polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:107. 
     
     
         20 . A fusion protein comprising a first polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:107 and a second polypeptide. 
     
     
         21 . A fusion protein according to  claim 20 , where said second polypeptide is an  M. tuberculosis  antigen. 
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising a polypeptide of  claim 19  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising a fusion protein of  claim 20  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 22 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 23 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         28 . An isolated polypeptide consisting of an immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107, wherein the immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107 is at least 9 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         29 . A fusion protein comprising a first polypeptide consisting of an immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107, wherein the immunogenic fragment of SEQ ID NO:107 is at least 9 amino acids in length, and a second polypeptide. 
     
     
         30 . A fusion protein according to  claim 29 , where said second polypeptide is an  M. tuberculosis  antigen. 
     
     
         31 . A composition comprising a polypeptide of  claim 28  and a physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         32 . A composition comprising a fusion protein of  claim 29  and physiologically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 31 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 32 , further comprising a non-specific immune response enhancer. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 35 , wherein the non-specific immune response enhancer is an adjuvant.