POLYPEPTIDE NUCLEIC SEQUENCES EXPORTED FROM MYCOBACTERIA, VECTORS COMPRISING SAME AND USES FOR DIAGNOSING AND PREVENTING TUBERCULOSIS

摘要

The invention concerns recombinant vectors replicated in mycobacteria, a set of sequences coding for exported polypeptides detected by fusion with alkaline phosphatase, in particular a polypeptide, called DP428, of about 12 kD corresponding to an exported protein found in mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The invention also concerns methods and kits for detecting in vitro the presence of a mycobacterium and in particular a mycobacterium belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in a biological sample using said polypeptides, their fragments or polynucleotides coding for the latter. The invention further concerns immunogenic compositions or vaccines for preventing and/or treating infections caused by mycobacteria and in particular a mycobacterium belonging to said complex, particularly tuberculosis.