IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED MYCOBACTERIAL ANTIGENS

摘要

The present invention relates to compositions useful in immunization against pathogenic organisms of the genus Mycobacterium and for diagnostic purposes. In particular, the present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one protein which is differentially expressed in a virulent strain as compared to an avirulent strain of Mycobacteria. Furthermore, the invention relates to compositions comprising fusion proteins, antigenic fragments, nucleic acid molecules encoding the aforementioned proteinaceous compounds and/or antibodies thereto. Additionally, the invention relates to pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions comprising or employing compounds of the invention. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of t he compounds of the invention for the treatment of Mycobacterium induced diseas es and/or for the preparation of a vaccine for vaccination against Mycobacteriu m induced diseases.