PEPTIDE MIMOTOPES OF MYCOBACTERIAL MANNOSYLATED LIPOGLYCANS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention relates to the identification of antigenic and immunogenic peptide-based mimicry of mannose-containing cell-wall compounds characterizing mycobacterial infectious agents, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thus, the present invention provides amino acid molecules which are mimotopes of mannosylated lipoglycans, such as lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM), comprising at least one of the following characteristics: (a) being capable of binding to ManLAM binding antibodies; (b) being capable of eliciting production of ManLAM binding antibodies. The amino acid of the invention is used in a diagnostic method for diagnosing mycobacterial infections and in a method of vaccinating subject against such infections. Accordingly, the invention also provides a diagnostic kit and a vaccine for the executing the aforementioned methods.