JP5075969B2 - Mycobacterium tuberculosis esat-6 gene family based tuberculosis vaccine and diagnostic method - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to several immunologically active, novel polypeptide fragments derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, vaccines containing fragments as immunogenic components, and other immune compositions. Products and methods for the preparation and use of polypeptides. The present invention also relates to a novel nucleic acid fragment derived from M. tuberculosis useful for the preparation of the polypeptide fragment of this invention and the diagnosis of infection in M. tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Human tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a serious global health problem that causes about 3 million deaths annually according to the WHO. The global incidence of new TB cases has gradually declined over the last decade, but this trend over the last few years has been marked by the emergence of AIDS and the emergence of M. tuberculosis multidrug resistant strains. changed.
The only vaccine currently available for clinical use is BCG, and the efficacy of this vaccine remains a matter of discussion. BCG generally induces high levels of acquired tolerance in animal models of TB, but some human studies in developing countries have failed to demonstrate significant protection. In particular, BCG is not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. This is because BCG vaccination impairs the specificity of the tuberculin skin test for the diagnosis of TB infection.

For this reason, the development of new and improved vaccines against TB has become an urgent issue, and the WHO has shown very high priority. Many attempts have been made to uncover protected mycobacterial substances, and several researchers in 1950-1970 reported increased resistance after experimental vaccination. However, no specific long-term protective immune response has been established for the efficacy of BCG.
Immunity to M. tuberculosis is characterized by three basic characteristics; 1) live bacteria effectively elicit protective immune responses; 2) specifically sensitized T lymphocytes are Mediates this protection, and 3) The most important mediator appears to be interferon gamma (IFN-γ).
M. tuberculosis retains and secretes several proteins that potentially indicate the formation of new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. For several years, major efforts have been devoted to identifying new protective antigens for the development of new vaccines against TB. Candidate molecule research initially focused on proteins released from dividing bacteria. Several molecules have been identified and characterized from this mycobacterial protein fraction. ESAT-6, a low molecular weight protein from culture filtrate, is a special potential IFN-γ inducer when used to stimulate human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from tuberculosis (TB) patients (Ravn et al., 1999).

  Whole sequencing of the M. tuberculosis genome has yielded several important findings. Of interest was the finding that the potent T-cell antigen ESAT-6 is transcribed with another low-mass protein (CFP10). The genes encoding these two proteins, in other words, were found to be next to each other on the mycobacterial genome located in the same operon and controlled by the same promoter. The two genes have about 40% sequence identity. At the amino acid level, sequence identity was approximately 15%. The protein was approximately the same in size and pI.

  Together with some putative open reading frames (ORFs), these two molecules constitute what is referred to as the esat-6 gene family (Cole et al., 1998, Berthet et al., 1998). All genes in this family encode low-mass proteins, which are located in an operon-like structure like ESAT-6 and CFP10. The family was first described by Cole et al. (1998) as follows: "The potent T-cell antigen ESAT-6, possibly secreted in a Sec-independent manner, is encoded by members of a multigene family. Genetic association studies have described several similarly organized operons that contain genes encoding large ATP-hydrolyzable membrane proteins that can act as transporters, '' and then Berthet et al. (1998 ), “Several genes that share weak similarity with esat-6 were previously identified during the M. tuberculosis genome sequencing project. These genes are less than 35% of each other. Although sharing sequence similarity, they all belong to the esat-6 gene family because they all potentially encode a small polypeptide of about 100 amino acids, all of which are operas. Like structures organized was described as frequently preceded by the "by a gene encoding the PE and PPE families of repeat proteins.

  The diagnosis of M. tuberculosis at the earliest stage is important for effective treatment of the disease. Current diagnostic assays that determine M. tuberculosis infection are expensive and labor intensive. In some parts of the world, the majority of patients exposed to M. tuberculosis undergo chest x-rays and attempts have been made to culture bacteria in vitro from saliva samples. X-rays as a diagnostic assay are numb and can only identify infection at a highly advanced stage. M. tuberculosis culture is not ideal as a diagnostic tool. This is because bacteria grow incompletely and slowly outside the body, which gives false negative test results and takes weeks to get results. An inexpensive assay used in third countries around the world is the standard tuberculin skin test. It is indistinguishable from M. bovis BCG vaccinated individuals and therefore vaccinated with bacterial strains associated with M. tuberculosis (BCG vaccination) Or it is not ideal at all in detecting infections because it cannot be used in the local world as a child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the broadest aspect, the invention consists of an amino acid sequence encoded by a member of the esat-6 gene family or a polypeptide fragment encoded by a member of the esat-6 gene family and at least 70% sequence It relates to substantially pure polypeptide fragments consisting of amino acid analogs that are identical and at the same time immunologically equivalent to polypeptide fragments encoded by members of the esat-6 gene family. A member of the esat-6 gene family is defined as a gene that encodes a small protein, two such genes are placed next to each other on the genome, and at least one of the gene products is at least one of Rv3874, Rv3875, or Rv0288 Has 15% amino acid sequence identity. The following genes are currently members of the esat-6 gene family: Rv0287, Rv0288, Rv1036c, Rv1037c, Rv1038c, Rv1197, Rv1198, Rv1792, Rv1793, Rv2346c, Rv2347c, Rv2348c, Rv2653c, R3019, c30, Rv2654c, R30 Rv3445c, Rv3619c, Rv3620c, Rv3874, Rv3875, Rv3890c, Rv3891c, Rv3904c and Rv3905c.
These proteins have important mycobacterial specific functions that may be related to the intracellular environment of macrophage phagosomes. Furthermore, they show high immunological potency as described in Examples 1, 3a and 3b. They are therefore proposed as useful candidates for vaccines against TB or diagnostic preparations for TB. Genes encoding these proteins are proposed as components of DNA vaccines against TB.

Response of human lymphocytes to rTB7.3, rTB10.4 and rCFP10. 2 human TB patients (○) and 2 healthy human donors vaccinated with BCG vaccinated (r) 7.3 (A), rTB10.4 (B) and rCFP10 (C) Δ) IFN-γ response obtained from stimulation of PBMC from origin. All IFN-γ analyzes were performed twice on supernatants pooled from 3 wells and presented as an average. Deviations in multiple wells were always less than 10% of the average. IFN-γ levels below 50 pg / ml were considered negative. IFN-γ response to low mass antigens from M. tuberculosis in different donor groups. Seven healthy unvaccinated donors, seven healthy BCG vaccine donors and 17 TB patients were stimulated with 5 μg / ml ST-CF or recombinant antigen. Individual antigen-specific responses are shown as delta values (IFN-γ release in antigen-stimulated wells-IFN-γ release in unstimulated wells). ST-CF: Short-term culture filtrate, rTB7.3: Rv3221c recombinant, rTB10.4: Rv0288 recombinant, rCFP10: CFP10 recombinant, rESAT-6: ESAT-6 recombinant.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In this specification and claims, the term “polypeptide fragment” or a variant thereof refers to a short peptide, oligopeptide (11-100 amino acid residues) of at least 2 amino acid residues, at most 10 amino acid residues. ) And longer peptides. Polypeptide fragments may be chemically modified by glycosylation, by lipidation, or by consisting of substituents.
In this specification, the term “substantially pure polypeptide fragment” means a polypeptide preparation containing at most 5% by weight of other polypeptide substances that naturally bind (more about other polypeptide substances). Low%, for example, at most 4%, at most 3%, at most 2%, at most 1% and at most 1/2% are preferred). It is preferred that the substantially pure polypeptide is at least 96% pure, that is, the polypeptide constitutes at least 96% by weight of the total polypeptide material in the preparation. % Is preferably higher, for example at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, at least 99,25%, at least 99,5% and at least 99,75%. A polypeptide fragment is "essentially pure form", i.e. essentially free of any other antigen to which the polypeptide fragment naturally binds, i.e. any other antigen from bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis group. It is preferable. This can be accomplished by preparing polypeptide fragments by recombinant means in non-mycobacterial host cells described below, or by well-known methods of solid phase or liquid phase peptide synthesis, such as the method described by Merrifield or variations thereof. Can be performed by synthesizing.

“Mycobacterium tuberculosis group ” has its usual meaning. In other words, the mycobacteria group causing TB includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium africanum.
The term “toxic mycobacteria” is understood as bacteria that can cause tuberculosis disease in mammals, including humans. Examples of toxic mycobacteria are M. tuberculosis, M. africanum and M. bovis.
According to the term “TB patient”, an individual whose culture or microscopically revealed infection with virulent mycobacteria and / or an individual who has been clinically diagnosed with TB and is susceptible to anti-TB chemotherapy It is understood. TB culture, microscopy and clinical diagnosis are well known to those skilled in the art.
According to the term `` PPD positive individual '', a recall reaction (as measured by the release of at least 1,000 pg / ml of INF-γ from a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) or whole blood in which the Manto test is positive or PPD is positive). It is understood as an individual that induces an increase in recall reaction) in vitro. Induction is performed by adding 2.5-5 μg of PPD / ml to a suspension consisting of approximately 1.0-2.5 × 10 ⁵ PBMC. The release of IFN-γ is assessed by measuring INF-γ in the supernatant collected 5 days after addition of PPD to the suspension compared to the release of INF-γ without addition of PPD.

By the term “delayed type hypersensitivity reaction” is understood a T-cell mediated inflammatory reaction elicited after injection of a polypeptide or after application to the skin. This inflammatory response appears 72 to 96 hours after injection or application of the polypeptide.
By the term “IFN-γ” interferon-gamma is understood.
Unless stated otherwise throughout this specification, the terms "include", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "consists of" mean inclusion of the described element or whole or a group of elements or whole However, it will be understood that it does not exclude any other element or whole or group of elements or whole.

[N_difは、配置した際の2つの配列における非同一残基の全数であり、N_refは配列の1つにおける残基数である]として算出できる。つまり、DNA配列AGTCAGTCは、配列 AATCAATC (N_dif=2 及び N_ref=8)と75％の同一性を有するであろう。ギャップは、非同一の特定残基として計測し、つまりDNA配列AGTGTCは、DNA配列AGTCAGTC (N_dif=2 及び N_ref=8)と75％の配列同一性を有するであろう。配列同一性は、あるいは、BLASTプログラム、例えばBLASTPプログラム(Pearson W.R及びD.J. Lipman (1988) PNAS USA 85:2444-2448) (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ cgi-bin/BLAST)により算出することができる。発明の1つの観点において、アライメントは、http://www.ch.embnet.org/software/LALIGN form.html で入手可能なX. Huang 及びW. Millerら(Adv. Appl. Math. (1991) 12:337-357)によって記載されるデフォルトパラメータで世界的なアラインアルゴリズムを用いて行われる。 The term “sequence identity” refers to a quantitative measure of the degree of homology between two amino acid sequences of the same length or between two nucleotide sequences of the same length. If the two sequences being compared are not of equal length, the sequences must be arranged to best fit as much as possible. Sequence identity is

[N _dif is the total number of non-identical residues in the two sequences when placed, and N _ref is the number of residues in one of the sequences]. That is, the DNA sequence AGTCAGTC will have 75% identity with the sequence AATCAATC (N _dif = 2 and N _ref = 8). Gaps are measured as non-identical specific residues, ie, the DNA sequence AGTGTC will have 75% sequence identity with the DNA sequence AGTCAGTC (N _dif = 2 and N _ref = 8). Sequence identity is alternatively calculated by a BLAST program, such as the BLASTP program (Pearson WR and DJ Lipman (1988) PNAS USA 85: 2444-2448) (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/BLAST) be able to. In one aspect of the invention, the alignment is http://www.ch.embnet.org/software/LALIGN This is done using a global alignment algorithm with default parameters described by X. Huang and W. Miller et al. (Adv. Appl. Math. (1991) 12: 337-357) available on form.html.

The most preferred minimum% for sequence identity is at least 80%, such as at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97% , At least 98%, at least 99% and at least 99.5%.
The M. tuberculosis antigens shown herein include variants that are encoded by DNA sequences that are substantially homologous to one or more of the DNA sequences specifically set forth herein. As used herein, sequence identity refers to a DNA sequence that can hybridize under moderately stringent conditions. Appropriate and moderate stringency conditions include pre-washing with 5X SSC, 0.5% SDS, 1.0 mM EDTA (pH 8.0) solution; at 50-60 ° C overnight, 5X SSC, or for cross-species homology Hybridization at 45 ° C., 0.5XSSC; followed by 2 × 20 min washes at 65 ° C. with 2 ×, 0.5X, and 0.2 × SSC containing 0.1% SDS, respectively. Such hybridized DNA sequences are also within the scope of this invention due to code degeneracy, such as the nucleotide sequence encoding the immunogenic polypeptide encoded by the hybridized DNA sequence.

Thus, each polypeptide fragment can be characterized by a specific amino acid and nucleic acid sequence. In such sequences, such nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences are modified by substitution, insertion, addition and / or deletion of one or more nucleotides in the nucleic acid sequence to replace one or more amino acid residues in the recombinant polypeptide, It will be understood that analogs and variants produced by recombinant methods that cause insertions, additions or deletions are included.
When the term nucleotide is used below, for some purposes it can also be understood as DNA, RNA, PNA or LNA. However, obvious limitations are imposed as those skilled in the art will appreciate. PNA or LNA can be used instead of DNA. PNA has been shown to exhibit a highly dynamic hybridization profile (PNA is described in Nielsen PE et al., 1991, Science 254: 1497-1500). LNA (Locked Nucleic Acids) is a recently introduced oligonucleotide analog containing bicyclonucleoside monomers (Koshkin et al., 1998, 54, 3607-3630; Nielsen, NK et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc 1998, 120, 5458-5463).

The esat-6 gene family consists of genes that meet the following criteria a) -c):
a) a gene encoding a small protein;
b) at least two such genes located next to each other on the genome;
c) At least one gene product of criterion b) is at least 15% amino acid sequence identical to any of Rv3874 (SEQ ID NO: 1), Rv3875 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or Rv0288 (SEQ ID NO: 3) Have sex.
One common characteristic of the esat-6 family is the small size of the protein product of the gene. In this regard, small proteins are about 80 amino acids, such as about 90 amino acids, about 100 amino acids, about 110 amino acids, about 120 amino acids, about 130 amino acids, about 140 amino acids, or about 150 amino acids.
These proteins have important mycobacterial specific functions that are related to the intracellular environment of the macrophage phagosome, and the expression of these molecules is simultaneously at specific stages of infection during intracellular growth. Suggests that it can be up-regulated. This upregulation may explain the high antigenicity of this protein family. Preferably, the amino acid sequence identity of criterion c) is 15% or more, such as 20% or more, such as 25%, 30% or even 35% or more.

Currently, the following genes meet the above criteria a) -c), and as a result, esat-6 gene family members have been identified (see Table 1):
Rv0287, Rv0288 (TB10.4), Rv1036c, Rv1037c, Rv1038c, Rv1197, Rv1198, Rv1792, Rv1793, Rv2346c, Rv2347c, Rv2348c, Rv2653c, Rv2654c, R3430, R3 Rv3875 (ESAT-6), Rv3890c, Rv3891c, Rv3904c and Rv3905c.
As disclosed in Example 1, CFP10, ESAT-6, and TB10.4 (formerly named CFP7) are very good IFN- when using purified recombinant antigen to stimulate PBMC from human TB patients. It is a γ inducer. Such an action (as described in criteria d) ii) below is an important first step before deciding whether this protein should be further developed as a component of a vaccine or diagnostic composition. This is a test.
Interestingly, recombinant Rv1793 and a synthetic peptide derived from this protein and Rv0287 (both members of the esat-6 gene family) have been shown to produce T-cell proliferation and IFN- in PBMC from two PPD-positive donors. Stimulated γ production (WO98 / 53075 and WO98 / 53076).

In one embodiment of the invention, the protein product of the esat-6 family member should further meet criterion d):
d) At least one of the following properties should be positive:
i) It is toxic mycobacteria as measured by the release of at least 1,500 pg / ml IFN-γ from T-lymphocytes collected from mice 28 days after infection with 5 x 10 ⁴ toxic mycobacteria. Induces an in vitro response during primary infection. Induction is performed by adding the polypeptide to a suspension of approximately 2 × 10 ⁵ cells isolated from the spleen. As a result of adding the polypeptide, the concentration was less than 20 μg / ml of suspension, and the release of IFN-γ was determined by measuring IFN-γ in the supernatant collected 3 days after adding the polypeptide to the suspension. Can be evaluated.
ii) It must be at least 500 pg / ml, preferably 1,000 pg / ml IFN-γ from TB patients from 0-6 months after diagnosis, or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or whole blood collected from PPD positive individuals The recall reaction measured by the release of is induced in vitro. Induction is performed by adding the polypeptide to a suspension consisting of approximately 1.0-2.5 × 10 ⁵ PBMCs or whole blood cells. As a result of adding the polypeptide, the concentration became less than 20 μg / ml of suspension, and the release of IFN-γ was determined by measuring IFN-γ in the supernatant collected 5 days after adding the polypeptide to the suspension. Can be evaluated.

iii) It is an antibody specific for TB patients as measured by ELISA technique or Western blot when serum is diluted 1:20 in PBS and incubated with the polypeptide at a high concentration of 20 μg / ml Elicit a response and elicit a response that is at least 0.1 OD by ELISA or visually identifiable by Western blot.
iv) It is positive in vitro as measured by at least 500 pg / ml IFN-γ release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from clinically or subclinically toxic mycobacterial infected individuals Trigger a reaction. Induction is performed by adding the polypeptide to a suspension consisting of about 1.0-2.5 × 10 ⁵ PBMCs. As a result of adding the polypeptide, the concentration became less than 20 μg / ml of suspension, and the release of IFN-γ was determined by measuring IFN-γ in the supernatant collected 5 days after adding the polypeptide to the suspension. Can be evaluated. It is preferred that individuals not infected with toxic mycobacteria do not induce such release of IFN-γ.
v) It elicits a positive in vitro response as measured by the release of at least 500 pg / ml IFN-γ from T cell lines arising from PPD positive individuals. Induction is performed by adding the polypeptide to a suspension consisting of 1-5 × 10 ⁵ cells / ml. As a result of adding the polypeptide, the concentration was less than 20 μg / ml, and the release of IFN-γ was evaluated by measuring IFN-γ in the supernatant collected 3-5 days after adding the polypeptide to the suspension. it can.

vi) It elicits a positive in vitro response measured by T-cell proliferation with a stimulation index (SI) of at least 5 from T cell lines arising from PPD positive individuals (SI, average number per minute in the presence of antigen) / Calculated as the average number of antigen free per minute). Induction is performed by adding the polypeptide to a suspension consisting of 1-5 × 10 ⁵ cells / ml. As a result of adding the polypeptide, the concentration was less than 20 μg / ml, and the release of IFN-γ was evaluated by measuring IFN-γ in the supernatant collected 3-5 days after adding the polypeptide to the suspension. it can.
vii) It induces a positive DTH response in clinically or semiclinically toxic mycobacterial infected individuals as measured by intradermal injection or topical patch of up to 100 μg polypeptide. A positive reaction has a diameter of at least 10 mm 72-96 hours after injection or application.
viii) It induces a positive DTH response in clinically or semiclinically toxic mycobacterial infected individuals as measured by intradermal injection or topical patch of up to 100 μg polypeptide. A positive reaction has a diameter of at least 5 mm 72-96 hours after injection. It is preferred not to elicit such a response in individuals apparently infected with toxic mycobacteria.

The properties described in i) will also be satisfied when the release of IFN-γ from reactivated memory T-lymphocytes is 2,000 pg / ml, for example 3,000 pg / ml. In another embodiment of the invention, the immunological action of the polypeptide is that no polypeptide is added, and a significant increase is the release of IFN-γ from a similar assay showing an immunologically effective polypeptide. Measured relative to IFN-γ release as described. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the addition of the polypeptide results in a concentration of less than 20 μg / ml suspension, eg 15 μg, 10 μg, 5 μg, 3 μg, 2 μg or 1 μg polypeptide / suspension ml.
One example of a mouse strain for property i) is C57B1 / 6j as an animal model. As is known to those skilled in the art, various strains can react with an immune response with varying strength to the same polypeptide due to genetic changes. It is currently unknown which mouse strain produces the best prediction of immunogenic reactivity in which human group. Therefore, other mouse strains such as C3H / HeN, CBA (preferably CBA / J), DBA (preferably DBA / 2J), A / J, AKR / N, DBA / 1J, FVB / N, SJL / N, It is important to test 129 / SvJ, C3H / HeJ-Lps or BALB mice (preferably BALB / cA, BALB / cJ). Currently, it is also considered that similar tests conducted in other animal models such as the guinea pig model and the rat model are expected clinically. In order to obtain a good clinical expectation for humans, any livestock animal model, such as a bovine model, a pig model, a deer model, or any primate model, gives a clinical expectation, and as a result animal models It seems to be useful.

Furthermore, it should be noted that tuberculosis disease also affects several different animal species such as cattle, primates, guinea pigs, badgers, opossums and deer. Polypeptides that have been found to be effective in any of the models described above may be important for the treatment of animals, even if they are not effective in humans.
It is proposed to measure the release of IFN-γ from reactivated T lymphocytes collected from mice within 28 days of infection with virulent mycobacteria. This is due to the fact that certain T-cells that cause early recognition of infected macrophages stimulate strong bactericidal activity through the production of IFN-γ when the immune host enhances the protective immune response. (Rook, GAW 1990., Flesch, I. et al., 1987). However, other cytokines are relevant in monitoring immune responses against polypeptides, such as IL-12, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-6, TGF-β. There is a possibility. Usually, one or more cytokines will be measured using, for example, PCR techniques or ELISA. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a significant increase or decrease in the amount of any of these cytokines induced by a particular polypeptide can be used to assess the immune efficacy of the polypeptide. Mice that have disrupted the gene encoding IFN-γ cannot control mycobacterial infection and die very quickly with extensive dissemination, cheese-like necrosis and large abscesses, so they have an IFN-γ response. The ability of a polypeptide to elicit is currently considered to be a correlated phenomenon most associated with protective immunity (Flynn et al., (1993) J. Exp. Med 178: 2249-2254, Cooper et al., (1993) J Exp.Med.178: 2243-2248). A specific model for obtaining information about antigenic targets of protective immunity in memory models was first developed by Lefford (Lefford et al. (1973) Immunology 25: 703) and has been used extensively in recent years (Orme et al., (1988). Infect. Immun. 140: 3589, P. Andersen et al. (1995) J. Immunol. 154: 3359).

The properties described in ii) are also collected from TB patients or PPD positive individuals whose release of IFN-γ from PBMC is 6 months or more after diagnosis, for example, 9 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years after diagnosis Will be satisfied when measured with PBMC.
Comments on property i) regarding significant increases in IFN-γ, polypeptide concentration and other cytokines are equally relevant to property ii).
The properties described in iii) will be met, especially if the ELISA is performed as follows: a polypeptide of interest at a concentration of 1-10 μg / ml is added to a 96-well polystyrene plate (NUNC, Denmark) After washing step with phosphate buffer pH 7.3 containing 0.37 M NaCl and 0.5% Tween-20, serum or plasma from TB patients is washed 1:10 with PBS with 1% Tween-20. Dilute to 1: 1000. Antibody binding to the polypeptide is measured by adding a labeled (eg, peroxidase-labeled) second antibody and then the reaction is performed using OPD and H ₂ O ₂ as described by the manufacturer (DAKO, Denmark). Visualize. The OD value for each well is measured using an appropriate ELISA reader.
In a preferred embodiment, the Western blot is performed as follows: 1-40 μg concentration of polypeptide is used for SDS-PAGE, and after electrophoresis, the polypeptide is transferred to a membrane such as nitrocellulose or PVDF. The membrane is then washed for 30 minutes with phosphate buffer pH 7.3 containing 0.37 M NaCl and 0.5% Tween-20. Serum from one or more TB patients is diluted 1:10 to 1: 1000 with phosphate buffer pH 7.3 containing 0.37 M NaCl.
The membrane is then washed 4 times 5 minutes with binding buffer and incubated with a second antibody labeled with peroxidase or phosphatase. The reaction is then visualized using staining methods recommended by the manufacturer (DAKO, Denmark).

Individuals whose polypeptide is not infected with virulent mycobacteria, ie individuals who have been BCG vaccinated or infected with Mycobaterium avium or sensitized with non-tuberculous mycobacteria Or individuals who have not been infected with virulent mycobacteria, i.e. those with ongoing infection with virulent mycobacteria, will have such IFN-γ release in positive cultures, individuals that have not been revealed microscopically or clinically at all If not induced, the properties described in iv) will also be particularly fulfilled. Comments on property i) regarding significant increase in IFN-γ, polypeptide concentration and other cytokines would be equally relevant to property iv).
Individuals whose polypeptide is not infected with toxic mycobacteria, i.e. BCG vaccinated, or infected with mycobacterium abium or sensitized to non-tuberculous mycobacteria, do not elicit such a response In some cases, the properties described in vii) will be particularly fulfilled. In preferred embodiments, the amount of polypeptide injected or applied into the skin is 90 μg, such as 80 μg, 70 μg, 60 μg, 50 μg, 40 μg or 30 μg. In another embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the positive reaction is at least 6 mm, such as 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm or 10 mm. In a preferred embodiment, sclerosis or erythema or both can be measured after administration of the polypeptide by intradermal injection, patch testing or multiple punctures. The reaction diameter can be positive after 48 hours or more, for example after 72 or 96 hours.

If the polypeptide is not infected with virulent mycobacteria, i.e., an infection that is ongoing with virulent mycobacteria does not elicit such a response in a positive culture or an individual that has not been revealed on a microscope at all, The properties described in viii) will be particularly satisfied. Comments on property vii) regarding the amount of polypeptide injected or applied into the skin and the diameter of the positive response are equally relevant to property viii).
One aspect of this invention is to have at least 70% sequence identity with a substantially pure polypeptide fragment consisting of an amino acid sequence encoded by a member of the esat-6 gene family and simultaneously immunize the polypeptide fragment. Rv0287, Rv0288, Rv1037c, Rv1038c, Rv1197, Rv1198, Rv1792, Rv1793, Rv2346c, Rv2347c, Rv3019c, Rv3619c, Rv3620c, Rv3874 and Rv3875, not substantially selected from the group consisting of Relates to pure polypeptide fragments.
In this specification, two polypeptide fragments are immunological if they satisfy property i), property ii), property iii), property iv), property v), property vi), property vii) or property viii). Are equivalent.

In both immunodiagnostics and vaccine preparation, it is often possible and practical to prepare antigens from segments of known immunogenic proteins or polypeptides. An epitope region can be used to produce a reaction similar to that produced by a complete antigenic polypeptide.
The “brute force” method can also be used to identify relevant T-cell epitopes recognized during the immune response: since T-cell epitopes are linear, SEQ ID NOs: Deletion mutants of a polypeptide having 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 or 31 are, for example, Subsequent deletion mutants of the IFN-γ assay described herein will indicate regions of the polypeptide that are essential for immune recognition. Another method is to use an oligopeptide derived from a polypeptide having SEQ ID NOs: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 or 31 (preferably about 20 amino acids). Take advantage of overlapping residues). Some of these will produce a positive response in the IFN-γ assay, while others will not.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the polypeptide fragment of this invention consists of a B-cell or T-cell epitope.
Although it has been found that the shortest length of a T-cell epitope is at least 6 amino acids, such epitopes usually consist of a stretch of longer amino acids. That is, a polypeptide fragment of this invention is at least 7 amino acid residues long, such as at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 12, at least 14, at least 16, at least 18, at least 20, at least 22, at least 24, and at least 30. It is preferable to have the amino acid residue length.
In one preferred embodiment, the polypeptide fragment of this invention does not have any signal sequence; this is of particular interest when the polypeptide fragment is prepared synthetically, but the polypeptide fragment is prepared recombinantly. Even if they are not normally transported by the host cell into the surrounding cytoplasm or extracellular space; polypeptide fragments can be recovered from the cytoplasm by conventional methods (see below) after disruption of the host cell. When a polypeptide fragment needs to be refolded, an overall regeneration scheme can be used (see, for example, the disclosure of WO 94/18227 which describes such an overall regeneration method). .

By producing the fusion polypeptide, the superior properties of the polypeptide fragment of this invention are obtained. For example, fusion partners that aid in the export of polypeptides when produced recombinantly, fusion partners that aid in polypeptide purification, and fusion partners that enhance the immunogenicity of the polypeptide fragments of this invention are all of interest. It is. The invention therefore also relates to a fusion polypeptide comprising at least one polypeptide fragment as described above and at least one fusion partner. To increase immunogenicity, the fusion partner can be, for example, another polypeptide fragment (allowing multiple expression of related epitopes) as described above and ESAT-6, TB10.4, CFP10, FP17, CFP21, CFP25, CFP29, MPB59, MPT59, MPB64 and MPT64 or at least one T-cell epitope of any of these antigens can be selected from the group consisting of another polypeptide from a bacterium belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis group . Other polypeptides that enhance immunogenicity that can serve as fusion partners include T cell epitopes (e.g., T cell epitopes derived from the polypeptides ESAT-6, MPB64, MPT64 or MPB59), or the immunogenicity of the target gene product Immunogenic epitopes that enhance the activity of, for example, lymphokines such as IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12. To facilitate expression and / or purification, the fusion partner can be, for example, a bacterial pilus protein, such as the hair components pilin and papA; protein A; ZZ-peptide (ZZ-fusion is commercially available from Pharmacia, Sweden) May be maltose binding protein; glutathione S-transferase; β-galactosidase; or poly-histidine.

  Other interesting fusion partners are polypeptides that are lipidated and allow the immunogenic polypeptide to be presented to the immune system in a suitable manner. This effect is conferred on the (naturally lipidated) polypeptide, for example, when a lipidated membrane anchor in the polypeptide is isolated from the cell that produces it. Borrelia burgdorferi OspA polypeptide based vaccine is known. In contrast, OspA polypeptides are immunologically relatively inactive when prepared without lipidated anchors.

Another part of this invention relates to nucleic acid fragments in isolated form. This nucleic acid fragment is
1) consisting of a nucleic acid sequence that is a member of the esat-6 gene family and / or
2) at least 10 nucleotides in length and stringent hybridization conditions (see conditions defined in the art, i.e., 5-10 ° C. below melting point T _m , see Sambrook et al., 1989, pages 11.4-11.49) ) Readily hybridizes with the nucleic acid fragment of 1) and / or
3) at least 10 nucleotides in length, and stringent hybridization conditions (conditions that have been defined in the art, i.e., 5 to 10 ° C. under the melting point T _m, Sambrook et al., 1989, pp. 11.45 to 11.49 (See below)
SEQ SEQ ID NO: 6 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 12 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 14 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 16 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 18 or a complementary sequence thereof,
SEQ ID NO: 20 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 22 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 24 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 26 or a sequence complementary thereto,
SEQ ID NO: 28 or a complementary sequence thereof, or
It easily hybridizes with a nucleic acid fragment having a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 30 or a sequence complementary thereto.

The nucleic acid fragment is preferably a DNA fragment.
To ensure the advantages of this invention, preferred nucleic acid sequences when used in hybridization studies or assays include sequences complementary to a stretch of at least about 10-40 nucleotides of the selected sequence. . A size of at least 10 nucleotides helps ensure that the fragment is long enough to form a stable and selective double helix molecule. However, in order to increase the stability and selectivity of the hybrid and thereby improve the quality and extent of the resulting specific hybrid molecule, molecules with complementary sequences over stretches longer than 10 bases are generally Is preferred.

  Thus, the term “subsequence”, when used in connection with the nucleic acid fragments of this invention, is intended to indicate a continuous stretch of at least 10 nucleotides exhibiting the above hybridization pattern. Usually this requires at least 70% minimum sequence identity with the hybridization partner subsequence having SEQ ID NO: 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 or 30. I will. The nucleic acid fragment is longer than 10 nucleotides, e.g. at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 35, at least 40, at least 45, at least 50, at least 55, at least 60, at least 65, at least 70 and at least 80. Preferably it is nucleotide length and the sequence identity is preferably higher than 70%, e.g. at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 92%, at least 94%, at least 96% and Should be at least 98%. Most preferably, the sequence identity is 100%. Such fragments are introduced directly into the recombinant vector for recombinant production, either by direct synthesis of the fragments by chemical means, for example by application of nucleic acid regeneration techniques such as PCR technology of US Pat. No. 4,603,102. By doing so, it can be easily prepared.

  It is well known that the same amino acid may be encoded by various codons, and in particular the codon usage is related to the preference of the organism to express the nucleotide sequence. Thus, at least one nucleotide or codon of the nucleic acid fragment of this invention is replaced with another, and when expressed, a polypeptide identical or substantially identical to the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid fragment is It can happen. Therefore, in the present invention, sequence variations such as substitution, insertion (including intron), addition, deletion and rearrangement of one or more nucleotides are possible. These mutations have no substantial effect on the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid fragment or subsequence thereof. The term “substitution” is intended to mean the replacement of one or more nucleotides in the entire nucleotide sequence with one or more different nucleotides. “Addition” is understood to mean the addition of one or more nucleotides at either end of the entire nucleotide sequence. “Insertion” is intended to mean the introduction of one or more nucleotides within the entire nucleotide sequence. “Deletion” is intended to indicate that one or more nucleotides are deleted from the entire nucleotide sequence at either end of the sequence or at an appropriate point within it. “Transfer” is intended to mean that two or more nucleotide residues are exchanged for each other.

The nucleotide sequence to be modified may be derived from cDNA or genome as described above, but may be derived from synthesis. Further, the sequence may be a mix of cDNA and genome, a mix of cDNA and synthesis or a mix of genome and synthesis as described above. The sequence may be modified, for example by site-directed mutagenesis, to produce the desired nucleic acid fragment encoding the desired polypeptide. The following description, which focuses on the modification of the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, describes these possibilities as well as the possibility of constructing the nucleic acid by ligation of two or more DNA fragments to obtain the desired nucleic acid fragment and the above set of principles. It should be understood as including combinations.
The nucleotide sequence can be modified using any suitable technique to produce a nucleic acid fragment encoding the polypeptide of this invention.
Modification of the nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide of this invention should not impair the immunological function of the resulting polypeptide.

A preferred method for preparing variants of the antigens disclosed herein is site-directed mutagenesis. This technique is useful for the preparation of individual peptides or proteins or peptides of equal biological function derived from antigenic sequences by specific mutagenesis of the underlying nucleic acid. Furthermore, by introducing one or more nucleotide variants into the nucleic acid by this technique, for example, one or more of the items considered above can be introduced to easily prepare and test sequence variants. Site-directed mutagenesis can produce mutants by using a specific oligonucleotide sequence that encodes the nucleotide sequence of the desired mutation, as well as a sufficient number of adjacent nucleotides, of the deletion bonds being studied. It produces primer sequences and sequence complexity large enough to form a stable double helix on both sides. Typically, a primer about 17-25 nucleotides long with about 5-10 residues on either side of the binding of the altered sequence is preferred.
In general, site-directed mutagenesis according to the present invention is performed by first obtaining a single stranded vector containing within its sequence a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention. Oligonucleotide primers with the desired mutated sequence are generally prepared synthetically, for example by the method of Crea et al. (1978). This primer is then annealed to a single stranded vector and subjected to a DNA polymerase such as E. coli polymerase I Klenow fragment to complete the synthesis of the mutated strand. Thus, a heteroduplex is formed in which one strand encodes the original, unmutated sequence and the second strand has the desired mutation. The heteroduplex vector is then used to transform suitable cells, such as E. coli cells, and clones containing the recombinant vector in which the mutated sequence is located are selected.

The preparation of sequence variants of selected nucleic acid fragments of this invention using site-directed mutagenesis is provided as a means of producing potentially useful gene species, There are other ways to obtain sequence variants of the nucleic acid fragment and are not meant to be limiting. For example, a recombinant vector encoding the desired gene is treated with a mutagen to produce a sequence variant for mutagenesis of plasmid DNA using hydroxylamine (see, for example, the method described in Eichenlaub, 1979). Can be obtained.
The present invention also relates to a replicable expression vector containing the above-mentioned nucleic acid fragment, and particularly to a vector comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding the polypeptide fragment of the present invention.
The vector can be any vector that is conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA procedures, and the choice of vector will often depend on the host cell into which it is introduced. Thus, the vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, ie a vector that exists as an extrachromosomal one whose replication is independent of chromosomal replication. Examples of such vectors are plasmids, phages, cosmids, minichromosomes or viruses. Alternatively, the vector may be a vector that, when introduced into a host cell, is integrated into the host cell genome and replicated along with the chromosome into which it has been integrated.

  An expression vector may be constructed to include any of the DNA segments disclosed herein. Such DNA may encode antigenic proteins specific for toxic mycobacterial strains or even for hybridization probes for detecting mycobacterial nucleic acids in a sample. Long or short DNA segments can be used depending on the desired antigenic protein. Epitope regions of proteins expressed or encoded by the disclosed DNA may be included as relatively short DNA segments. A variety of expression vectors are possible, including, for example, antibiotics that may be useful for identifying DNA segments and / or transformed cells that encode gene reporter gene products useful for the identification of heterologous gene products. Resistance genes such as resistance genes are included.

The vectors of this invention can be used to transform cells and propagate the nucleic acid fragments of this invention or express the polypeptide fragments of this invention. The invention therefore also relates to transformed cells having at least one such vector according to the invention. Such transformed cells (which are also part of this invention) may be any suitable bacterial host cell or any other cell type, such as unicellular eukaryotes, fungi or yeast, or multicellular organisms such as It may be an animal or plant-derived cell. Mammalian cells are used particularly when glycosylation is desired, but protein glycosylation is a rare phenomenon in prokaryotes. However, usually prokaryotic cells such as bacteria belonging to the genera Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Escherichia are preferred. The transformed cell is preferably Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis or M. bovis BCG cell, and particularly preferably the transformed cell expresses the polypeptide according to the present invention. The latter opens up the possibility of producing the polypeptides of this invention simply by recovery from a culture containing transformed cells. In the most preferred embodiment of this part of the invention, the transformed cell is the Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain Danish 1331, which is the Mycobacterium bovis strain Copenhagen from the Copenhagen BCG Laboratory (Statens Seruminstitut, Denmark). .
The nucleic acid fragments of this invention can produce recombinants of the polypeptide fragments of this invention. However, isolation from natural sources is also a means of providing polypeptide fragments, such as peptide synthesis.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a method for producing the polypeptide fragment of the present invention. In this method, the above-mentioned nucleic acid fragment is inserted into a vector that can replicate in the host cell, and the resulting recombinant vector is introduced into the host cell (the transformed cell is fractionated hybrid formation, fusion reporter gene product, resistance This host cell is cultured in a culture medium under conditions sufficient to effect the expression of the polypeptide (of course the cell can be selected using a variety of techniques including screening by identification of markers, anti-antigen antibodies, etc.) Can be cultured under conditions appropriate for the situation, using replication conditions if DNA is desired), recovering the polypeptide from the host cell or culture medium; or
From the total of all mycobacteria tuberculosis, or a lysate or fraction, for example from the cell wall containing fraction consists of synthesizing a polypeptide by peptide synthesis or isolation of a polypeptide, or solid or liquid phase .
The medium used for the growth of the transformed cells may be any medium as long as it is a normal medium suitable for the purpose. Suitable vectors may be any of the above vectors and suitable host cells may be any of the above cell types. The method used to construct the vector and introduce it into the host cell may be any method known for such purposes in the field of recombinant DNA. Below, the possibilities are explained in more detail:

In general, of course, prokaryotes are preferred for the initial cloning of the nucleic acid sequences of the invention and the construction of vectors useful in the invention. For example, in addition to the specific strains described in the more detailed disclosure below, strains such as, for example, E. coli K12 strain 294 (ATCC No. 31446), E. coli B, and E. coli X 1776 (ATCC No. 31537) Is mentioned. These examples are, of course, illustrative and not limiting.
Prokaryotes are also preferred for expression. The above strains as well as E. coli W3110 (F-, λ-, wild strain, ATCC No. 273325), bacilli such as Bacillus subtilis, or other enteric bacteria such as Salmonella typhimurim or Serratia marcescens, and various Pseudomonas Seeds may be used. Of particular interest are fast growing mycobacteria such as M. smegmatis. This is because these bacteria are highly similar to the Mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis group and thus have good potential to reduce the need for post-translational modification of the expression product. In one aspect of this invention, it is preferred to produce the polypeptides of this invention in a GRAS organism, such as lactococcus.

In general, plasmid vectors containing replicons and containing control sequences derived from species compatible with the host cell are used in connection with these hosts. Vectors usually have a replication site as well as a marking sequence that can provide phenotypic selection to transformed cells. For example, E. coli is usually transformed with a plasmid derived from an E. coli species, pBR322 (see, eg, Bolivar et al., 1977, Gene 2:95). The pBR322 plasmid contains a gene resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline and thus provides an easy means to identify transformed cells. Also, pBR plasmids, or other microbial plasmids, or phages must contain or be modified to contain a promoter for expression that can be used by the microorganism.
These promoters most commonly used for recombinant DNA construction include the B-lactamase (penicillinase) and lactose promoter systems (Chang et al., 1978; Itakura et al., 1977; Goeddel et al., 1979), and the tryptophan (trp) promoter The system (Goeddel et al., 1979; EPO Appl. Publ. No. 0036776) is included. Although these are the most commonly used promoters, other microbial promoters have been discovered and utilized, and details regarding their nucleotide sequences have been published so that those skilled in the art can operably link them to plasmid vectors. (Siebwenlist et al., 1980). Certain prokaryotic genes may be efficiently expressed in E. coli from their own promoter sequences, eliminating the need to add another promoter by artificial means.

After recombinant production of the polypeptide according to the invention, for example by affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody that binds substantially specifically to the polypeptide according to the invention (or other conventional biochemical procedures based on chromatography). Polypeptides may be isolated. Another possibility is to use the simultaneous electroelution technique described in Andersen et al. J. Immunol. Methods 161: 29-39.
According to this invention, post-translational modifications may include lipidation, glycosylation, cleavage or elongation of the polypeptide.
In one aspect, the DNA sequence information provided by the present invention may be used to prepare a relatively short DNA (or RNA, PNA, or LNA) sequence that can specifically hybridize to a mycobacterial gene sequence. it can. In these aspects, nucleic acid probes of appropriate length are prepared taking into account the relevant sequences. The ability of such nucleic acid probes to hybridize specifically to mycobacterial gene sequences has made them particularly useful in various embodiments. Most importantly, the probe can be used in a variety of diagnostic assays to detect the presence of pathogenic organisms in a given sample. However, any use is envisaged, including the use of sequence information in the preparation of mutant species primers, or primers used to prepare other gene constructs.

The nucleic acid fragment of this invention is separate from being used as a starting point for polypeptide synthesis and hybridization probes of this invention (useful as primers in direct hybridization assays or eg PCR or other molecular amplification methods). May be used for in vivo expression of the antigen. That is, the nucleic acid fragment may be used for a so-called DNA vaccine. From recent studies, DNA fragments cloned in non-replicating vectors in eukaryotic cells can be introduced into animals (including humans) by, for example, intramuscular injection or transdermal administration (the so-called “gene gun” method). Has been revealed. DNA is absorbed by, for example, muscle cells and the gene of interest is expressed by a promoter that is functioning in eukaryotes, such as a viral promoter, after which the gene product stimulates the immune system. These newly discovered methods are discussed in Ulmer et al., 1993, incorporated herein by reference.
The invention therefore also relates to a vaccine consisting of a nucleic acid fragment according to the invention, which expresses the antigen in vivo by animals including humans to which it has been administered. The amount of antigen expressed is effective to substantially increase the resistance to mycobacterial infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in animals, including humans.

The efficacy of such “DNA vaccines” may be enhanced by administering a gene encoding an expression product together with a DNA fragment encoding a polypeptide having the ability to modulate immune response. For example, a gene encoding a lymphokine precursor or lymphokine (e.g., IFN-γ, IL-2 or IL-12) can administer two individual DNA fragments or both DNA fragments contained in the same vector By doing so, it can be administered together with a gene encoding an immunogenic protein. Also, administering DNA fragments consisting of multiple nucleotide sequences, each encoding a related epitope of a polypeptide disclosed herein, thereby providing continuous sensitization of the immune system with a broad spectrum of these epitopes. There is also a possibility.
As described above, the polypeptide fragments of this invention are excellent candidates for vaccine components or components in immunodiagnostic agents.
Accordingly, another part of the invention relates to an immune composition consisting of a polypeptide or fusion polypeptide according to the invention. In order to ensure optimal efficacy of such an immune composition, the immune composition preferably comprises an immunologically and pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, vehicle or adjuvant.

A suitable carrier is a polymer to which a polypeptide such as plastic is bound by hydrophobic non-covalent interactions, such as polystyrene, or a polymer to which a polypeptide such as a polysaccharide or polypeptide is covalently bound, such as bovine serum. Selected from the group consisting of albumin, ovalbumin, or keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Suitable vehicles are selected from the group consisting of diluents and suspending agents. Adjuvants include dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA), Quil A, poly I: C, Freund's incomplete adjuvant, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), and muramyl dipeptide ( Preferably, it is selected from the group consisting of (MDP).
A preferred immune composition according to the invention consists of at least two different polypeptide fragments, each different polypeptide fragment being a polypeptide or the fusion polypeptide. The immune composition preferably consists of 2 to 20, for example 3 to 20 different polypeptide fragments or fusion polypeptides.
Such immune composition may preferably be in the form of a vaccine or in the form of a skin test reagent.

In accordance with the above, the invention therefore also relates to a method of producing an immune composition according to the invention. This method comprises the preparation, synthesis or isolation of a polypeptide according to the invention, solubilization or dispersion of the polypeptide in a vaccine medium, optionally other M. tuberculosis antigens and / or carriers, vehicles and / or adjuvants. Consists of adding substances.
The preparation of vaccines comprising peptide sequences as active ingredients is generally known in the art, as exemplified by US Pat. Nos. 4,608,251; 4,601,903; It is well understood. Typically, such vaccines are manufactured as injectable materials, either as liquid solutions or suspensions, and may be manufactured in solid form suitable for dissolution or suspension in liquid prior to injection. . The preparation may be emulsified. The active immunogenic ingredient is often mixed with excipients that are pharmaceutically acceptable and compatible with the active ingredient. Suitable excipients are, for example, water, saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol and the like and combinations thereof. In addition, the vaccine may contain minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents, or adjuvants that enhance the effectiveness of the vaccine, if necessary.

Vaccines are usually administered parenterally, by injection, for example transdermally or by intramuscular injection. Additional formulations suitable for other dosage forms include suppositories and, in some cases, oral formulations. In the case of suppositories, the usual binders and carriers may include, for example, polyalkalene glycols or triglycerides. Such suppositories may be prepared from mixtures containing the active ingredient in the range of 0.5-10%, preferably 1-2%. Oral formulations include such commonly used excipients such as pharmaceutical grade mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharin, cellulose, magnesium carbonate and the like. These compositions take the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills, capsules, sustained release formulations or powders and contain 10-95% of active ingredient, preferably 25-70%.
The protein may be formulated into the vaccine as a neutral or salt form. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include acid addition salts (formed with the free amino groups of the peptide). They are formed using inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid or organic acids such as acetic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, mandelic acid and the like. Salts formed with free carboxyl groups are also inorganic salts such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium or iron hydroxide and organics such as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, 2-ethylaminoethanol, histidine, procaine, etc. It can be derived from a salt.

The vaccine is administered in an amount that is compatible with the dosage formulation and that is therapeutically effective and immunogenic. The dosage depends, for example, on the individual being treated, including the ability of the individual immune system to enhance the immune response and the degree of protection desired. Suitable dose ranges are preferably on the order of several hundred μg for vaccines in the range of about 0.1 to 1000 μg, for example in the range of about 1 to 300 μg, especially in the range of about 10 to 50 μg. There are a variety of life regulations appropriate for initial administration and booster injection, but inoculation or other administration is typically followed by initial administration.
There are various application methods. Any of the usual vaccine administration methods can be used. These are considered to include oral administration with a solid physiologically acceptable substrate or physiologically acceptable dispersant, parenteral, administration by injection or the like. The dose of the vaccine will depend on the route of administration and will vary according to the age of the person receiving the vaccine and, to a lesser extent, the size of the person receiving the vaccine.
Some vaccine polypeptides are sufficiently immunogenic in the vaccine, while others enhance the immune response when the vaccine further comprises an adjuvant substance.

Various methods for obtaining the vaccine adjuvant effect include the use of drugs such as aluminum hydroxide or phosphate (alum) commonly used as 0.05-0.1% solutions in phosphate buffered saline, as 0.25% solutions It includes the mixing of synthetic polymer and sugar (Carbopol), respectively, aggregation of the proteins in the vaccine by heat treatment for 30 seconds to 2 minutes in the temperature range of 70 to 101 ° C. Aggregation by reactivation with pepsin-treated (Fab) antibody to albumin, or mixing with lipopolysaccharide components of bacterial cells or endotoxin or gram-negative bacteria such as C. parvum, mannide mono-oleate Emulsification in a physiologically acceptable oily vehicle such as (Aracel A) or emulsification using a 20% solution of perfluorocarbon (Fluosol-DA) used as a block substitute can also be used. According to this invention, DDA (dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide) is an interesting candidate for an adjuvant, but Freund's incomplete adjuvant as well as QuilA are of potential interest. Further possibilities are monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and muramyl dipeptide (MDP).
Another possibility of great interest (and therefore preferred) for obtaining an adjuvant effect is to use the technique described in Gosselin et al., 1992 (incorporated herein by reference). Briefly, the presentation of related antigens, such as the antigens of the present invention, can be enhanced by conjugating the antigen to an antibody (or antigen-binding antibody fragment) against the mononuclear cell / macrophage Fcγ receptor. In particular, it has been shown that conjugation of antigen and anti-FcγRI increases immunogenicity for vaccination purposes.

Other possibilities include the use of immunomodulators such as lymphokines (e.g. IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12) or synthetic IFN-γ inducers such as poly I: C in combination with the above adjuvants Is included. As described in Example 3b, the mixing of such an antigen with an adjuvant would result in an excellent vaccine formulation.
In many cases, multiple doses of the vaccine, usually no more than 6 vaccinations, more usually no more than 4 vaccinations, preferably one or more, usually at least about 3 vaccinations are required. I will. Vaccinations are usually 2-12 weeks apart, more usually 3-5 weeks apart. In order to maintain the desired protective immunity level, periodic boosters at intervals of 1-5 years, usually 3 years, are desirable. After the immunization process, in vitro proliferation assays of PBMC co-cultured with one or more polypeptide members used in the vaccine, eg co-cultured with ESAT-6 or ST-CF, in particular sensitization Measurement of IFN-γ levels released from lymphocytes may be performed. The assay may be performed using conventional labels such as radionuclides, enzymes, fluorescent agents, and the like. These techniques are well known and can be found in various patents, eg, US Pat. Nos. 3,791,932; 4,174,384, and 3,949,064, as examples of these types of assays.

Due to genetic variation, different individuals can respond to immune responses of varying strength against the same polypeptide. Thus, the vaccine of this invention may consist of several different polypeptides to enhance the immune response. A vaccine may consist of two or more polypeptides. These polypeptides are all as described above, or some but not all peptides may be derived from bacteria belonging to the M. tuberculosis group . In the latter example, polypeptides that do not necessarily meet the criteria described above for the polypeptides can act by their own immunogenicity, or simply act as an adjuvant. Examples of such interesting polypeptides are ESAT-6, TB10.4 and MPT64, but any other substance that can be isolated from mycobacteria is possible.
The vaccine may consist of 1-20, such as 2-20 or 3-20 different polypeptides, such as 3-10 different polypeptides.
One reason for mixing the polypeptide of the present invention with an adjuvant is to effectively activate the cellular immune response. However, this effect can be obtained in other ways, for example by expressing an effective antigen in a vaccine with a non-pathogenic microorganism. A well-known example of such a microorganism is Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

Accordingly, another important aspect of the invention is an improvement of currently available live BCG vaccines in which one or more copies of the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide is expressed and secreted by the microorganism. It is a vaccine for immunization of animals including humans against TB caused by Mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis group , comprising microorganisms introduced into the microbial genome as an active ingredient.
In this specification, the term “genome” refers to the chromosomes of microorganisms as well as extrachromosomal DNA or RNA, such as plasmids. However, the DNA sequence of this invention is preferably introduced into the chromosome of a non-pathogenic microorganism. This prevents the loss of introduced genetic material.
The non-pathogenic microorganism is preferably a bacterium selected from the group consisting of, for example, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Pseudomonas and Escherichia. The non-pathogenic microorganism is particularly preferably Mycobacterium bovis BCG, for example Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain: Danish 1331.

Incorporation of one or more copies of the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide according to the invention into Mycobacterium from M. bovis BCG strain will enhance the immunogenic effect of the BCG strain. It is believed that the incorporation of one or more copies of the nucleotide sequence of this invention will further enhance the immune response, so that one aspect of this invention is that at least 2 copies of the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide, such as at least 5 copies, A vaccine that is integrated into the genome of a microorganism. A copy of the DNA sequence may be the same encoding the same polypeptide, a variant of the same DNA sequence encoding the same or a homologous polypeptide, or in another embodiment, at least one of the polypeptides is There may be different DNA sequences encoding different polypeptides according to the invention.
The live vaccine of this invention can be prepared by culturing transformed non-pathogenic cells according to this invention, transferring these cells to a vaccine medium, and optionally adding a carrier, vehicle and / or adjuvant material.

The present invention also relates to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium africanum or Mycobacterium bovis, which comprises intradermal injection of the polypeptide according to the present invention or the above skin test reagent into animals including humans. Relates to a method for diagnosing TB caused by animals. A positive skin response at the injection site indicates that the animal has TB, and a negative skin response at the injection site indicates that the animal does not have TB. A positive response is a skin response having a diameter of at least 5 mm, but larger reactions are preferred, for example having a diameter of at least 1 cm, 1.5 cm and at least 2 cm. The composition used for the skin test reagent can be prepared in the same manner as described above for the vaccine.
With the above disclosure regarding the preparation and use of a vaccine, the present invention comprises tuberculosis comprising administering a polypeptide of the invention, or the vaccine composition of the invention described above, or the live vaccine described above to an animal, including a human. It also relates to a method for immunizing animals against TB caused by mycobacteria belonging to the fungal group . Preferred routes of administration are parenteral (eg intravenous and intraarterial), intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, oral, buccal, sublingual, nasal, rectal or transdermal routes.

A number of possible diagnostic assays and methods are envisioned:
Contacting a blood sample of patient-derived mononuclear cells (ie, T lymphocytes) with a sample of one or more polypeptides of the present invention for purposes of diagnosis of past or current infection with toxic mycobacteria Can do. This contact can be performed in vitro, and a positive reaction can be, for example, T cell proliferation or release of cytokines such as γ-interferon into the extracellular phase (eg, culture supernatant). A suitable in vivo test would be the skin test described above. It is also conceivable to contact a serum sample from a patient with the polypeptide of the invention, and evidence for binding of the antibody to the polypeptide in the serum sample indicates a past or present infection.
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a method for in vitro diagnosis of current or past sensitization in animals or humans by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis group . The method comprises providing a blood sample from an animal or human and contacting the animal-derived sample with a polypeptide of the invention to the extracellular phase of at least one cytokine by a mononuclear cell in the blood sample. A significant release of indicates that the animal is sensitized. The term “significant release” is defined by an appropriate statistical analysis such as a two-tailed T-test where the release of cytokines is greater than the release of cytokines from blood samples from patients without TB diagnosis. (With a 95% confidence interval). Usually, significant release is at least twice that observed from such samples.

Alternatively, a sample of a potentially infected organ may be contacted with an antibody raised against the polypeptide of this invention. Demonstration of the reaction between the sample and the antibody by methods well known in the art indicates the current infection. Also, of course, the presence of anti-mycobacterial antibodies in the serum by contacting a patient-derived serum sample with at least one of the polypeptide fragments of this invention and using a well-known method of visualizing the reaction between the antibody and the antigen. May be proved.
A nucleic acid fragment of this invention is administered to an animal, or a sample is incubated with a nucleic acid fragment of this invention or a nucleic acid fragment complementary thereto, and the presence of hybridized nucleic acid resulting from the incubation is determined (highly known in the art). Also included in this invention is a method of verifying the presence of a mycobacterial nucleic acid in an animal or sample, including humans, comprising detecting (using a hybridization assay). Such TB diagnostic methods include the presence of a nucleotide sequence in a sample derived from a test animal or human that consists of at least a part of the nucleotide sequence and hybridizes with a nucleic acid fragment (or complementary fragment) by using PCR technology. Use of the composition to detect is included.

The fact that certain of the disclosed antigens are not present in M. bovis BCG but present in toxic mycobacteria indicates that they are interesting drug targets. Antigens may constitute receptor molecules or toxins that facilitate infection by mycobacteria, and if these functions are inhibited, the infectivity of mycobacteria will be reduced.
In order to determine a particularly suitable drug target from the antigen of this invention, a gene encoding at least one of the polypeptides of this invention and the necessary regulatory sequences are introduced into a non-toxic strain of mycobacteria (e.g. BCG), It can be determined which polypeptides are important for toxicity. Once a specific protein is identified as important / contributing to toxicity, an anti-macobacterial agent can be rationally designed to inhibit the expression of important genes or attack important gene products. it can. For example, antibodies or fragments thereof, such as Fab and (Fab ′) ₂ fragments, can be prepared against such important polypeptides by methods known in the art and then used as prophylactic or therapeutic agents. Alternatively, small molecules can be screened for the ability to selectively suppress the expression of important gene products, for example, using recombinant expression systems that include the endogenous promoter of the gene, or for the ability to directly interfere with the action of the target. it can. These small molecules are then used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents that suppress mycobacterial toxicity.

Alternatively, an anti-mycobacterial agent that renders toxic mycobacteria nontoxic can be operably linked to express regulatory sequences and used to transform toxic mycobacteria. Such anti-mycobacterial agents inhibit the replication of certain mycobacteria by transcription or translation of the agent in mycobacteria. Such “new non-toxic” mycobacteria, for example, are immunologically very similar to toxic mycobacteria compared to BCG, and would be an excellent replacement for the modified BCG for vaccine purposes. .
Finally, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies that specifically react with the polypeptides of this invention in immunoassays, or specific binding fragments of the above antibodies, are also part of this invention. The production of such polyclonal antibodies requires that appropriate animals be immunized with the polypeptide and that these antibodies then be isolated, preferably by immunoaffinity chromatography. Monoclonal production can be performed by methods well known in the art, as this invention provides sufficient amounts of antigen for both immunization and screening for positive hybridomas.

References
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DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Response of human lymphocytes to rTB7.3, rTB10.4 and rCFP10. 2 human TB patients (○) and 2 healthy human donors vaccinated with BCG vaccinated (r) 7.3 (A), rTB10.4 (B) and rCFP10 (C) Δ) IFN-γ response obtained from stimulation of PBMC from origin. All IFN-γ analyzes were performed twice on supernatants pooled from 3 wells and presented as an average. Deviations in multiple wells were always less than 10% of the average. IFN-γ levels below 50 pg / ml were considered negative.
Figure 2
IFN-γ response to low mass antigens from M. tuberculosis in different donor groups. Seven healthy unvaccinated donors, seven healthy BCG vaccine donors and 17 TB patients were stimulated with 5 μg / ml ST-CF or recombinant antigen. Individual antigen-specific responses are shown as delta values (IFN-γ release in antigen-stimulated wells-IFN-γ release in unstimulated wells). ST-CF: Short-term culture filtrate, rTB7.3: Rv3221c recombinant, rTB10.4: Rv0288 recombinant, rCFP10: CFP10 recombinant, rESAT-6: ESAT-6 recombinant.

Examples Example 1 Effects of CFP10, ESAT-6 and TB10.4 on stimulation of PBMC from human TB patients
The ESAT-6 antigen was identified in the low molecular weight fraction of the culture filtrate due to a strong T cell response with high levels of released IFN-γ (Andersen et al., 1995). This antigen is now proven by many studies to have good stimulating antigenic properties and is strongly recognized by TB patients as well as a high percentage of different species of animals infected with TB. Recently, several other small proteins have been identified from various mycobacterial extracts and evaluated for their immunological relevance. Recently, a 10 kDa molecule (CFP10) encoded by the same operon as ESAT-6 has been identified (Berthet, FX1998).
Two novel low amounts of M. tuberculosis proteins: TB10.4 and TB7.3 (identical to Rv3221c and not a member of the ESAT-6 gene family) were identified. TB10.4 has been identified as a new member of the ESAT-6 family. Our data show that all three members of the ESAT-6 family tested so far (TB 10.4, CFP10 and ESAT-6) are targets that have been strongly recognized by the human immune response to M. tuberculosis. Prove that there is.

Cloning of genes encoding CFP10, TB7.3 and TB10.4
The gene encoding CFP10 was cloned as described above (Berthet, FX 1998). TB7.3 (formerly called CFP7A) was identified from ST-CF and the corresponding gene was cloned as described in (WO98 / 44119).
The gene encoding TB10.4 (formerly called CFP7) was identified by screening a genomic library of λgt11 M. tuberculosis with Mab PV-2 and described previously (WO98 / 44119) Was cloned as follows.

Expression and purification of recombinant TB7.3, TB10.4 and CFP10 Histidine-tagged recombinant proteins (rTB7.3, rTB10.4 and rCFP10) are essentially as described by the manufacturer, It was expressed and purified by metal affinity chromatography using a Talon column (Clonetech, Palo Alto, Ca) in the presence of 8M urea. Protein purification for homogenization was performed by anion exchange chromatography using a 1 ml Hitrap column (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden). Protein concentration was measured by the BCA test (Micro BCA Protein Assay Reagent kit, Pierce, Oud-Beijerland, The Netherlands). LPS content in these preparations as measured by Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) -test was always less than 0.05 ng LPS / μg protein.

Immunological recognition of low amounts of M. tuberculosis protein
PBMC consists of 17 Danish TB patients diagnosed and treated at the University of Copenhagen Hospital, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Copenhagen, and 7 BCG vaccinated patients and M. Tuberculosis. From seven healthy and unvaccinated healthy people whose exposure to is unknown. Blood samples were collected 0-6 months after diagnosis of tuberculosis and 2-40 years after BCG vaccination.
Separation of PBMC in the supernatant, culture and measurement of IFN-γ were performed as previously described by Ravn et al. Volume response studies of the three recombinant proteins (rTB7.3, rTB10.4, and rCFP10) were performed using 0.3-10 μg antigen / ml culture. Lymphocyte cultures of 2 Danish TB patients and 2 healthy Danish donors vaccinated with BCG were stimulated with 3 antigens. Lymphocyte responses after stimulation with TB7.3 were generally low with less than 1000 pg / ml of IFN-γ release (FIG. 1A). Neither IFN-γ nor the proliferative response to this antigen (data not shown) reached more than 20% of the response seen with ST-CF. For the other two antigens, high levels of IFN-γ were induced as the concentration of antigen increased (FIGS. 1B and C). Optimal concentrations of antigen were 1.25-10 μg / ml, and these concentrations produced IFN-γ responses in the range of 1000-4000 pg per ml.
Antigen was investigated in 13-17 TB patients, 4-7 BCG vaccinated and 7 non-vaccinated donors (Figure 2). TB7.3 was recognized but at low levels in both patients and vaccinated donors. Approximately 40% of TB patients (5/13) recognize this molecule at a significant level above background, and the median response is the same for those donors as for ST-CF. It was 659 pg IFN-γ / ml against 4024 pg IFN-γ / ml.

TB10.4 is a BCG vaccinated donor (71% responders, median IFN-γ = 3968 pg / ml vs 5968 pg / ml with ST-CF) and TB patients (88% Responders, median IFN-γ = 3298 pg / ml, ST-CF was recognized by both of the same donors at a higher level (4707 pg / ml). In TB patients, CFP10 induced significant IFN-γ release (median IFN-γ = 2135 pg / ml versus 4755 pg / ml with ST-CF for the same donor).
Compared to the significant T cell response to TB10.4, CFP10 and ESAT-6, TB7.3 was a weakly recognized antigen with very low activity.
Compared to ESAT-6, in TB patients, TB10.4 induced significantly higher levels of IFN-γ (P = 0.0017, Wilcoxon Signed rank test), whereas CFP10 and ESAT- The response of T cells to 6 was similar (P = 0.121). Both CFP10 and TB10.4 are recognized by less than 70% TB patients, and interestingly, these two potent immunogenic molecules have some in common with ESAT-6: Are approximately the same in size and pI (10 kDa and 4.5) and show amino acid sequence identity to ESAT-6 of 15% and 21.9%, respectively, and are members of the esat-6 gene family as defined above.
The data presented is tightly focused on the host immune response to members of the ESAT-6 family, demonstrating that this family contains several molecules that may be relevant to future TB vaccines and diagnostics. doing.

Example 2 Cloning of a gene encoding a low amount of protein from the ESAT-6 family The genes encoding Rv3890c, Rv3891c, Rv3904c, and Rv3905c were obtained by PCR amplification with gene-specific primers, except that the expression vector pMCT3 (pMCT6 (Harboe et al. , 1998)).
The following gene specific primers were used for protein cloning:
Rv0287:
PA0287: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGAGCCTTTTGGATGC-3 '(BglII)
PB0287: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCTCAGAACCCGGTATAGG-3 '(BamHI)
Rv1036c:
PA1036c: 5'- CTGAGATCTTTGATCCCCGGTCGGATGGTG (BglII)
PB1036c: 5'- CTCCCATGGGTCAGGTGATCGAATCAGCCA (NcoI)
Rv1037c:
PA1037c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGACCATCAACTATC-3 '(BglII)
PB1037c: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCTTAGGCCCAGCTGGAGCC-3 '(BamHI)
Rv2346c:
PA2346c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGACCATCAACTATC-3 '(BglII)
PB2346c: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCTCAGGCCCAGCTGGAGCC-3 '(BamHI)
Rv2348c:
PA2348c: 5'- CTGAGATCTGTGCTTTTGCCTCTTGGTCCG (BglII)
PB2348c: 5'- CCCAAGCTTCTAGCCGGCCGCCGGAGA (HindIII)
Rv2653c:
PA2653c: 5'- CTGAGATCTTTGACCCACAAGCGCACTAAA (BglII)
PB2653c: 5'- CTCCCATGGTCACTGTTTCGCTGTCGGGTTC (NcoI)
Rv2654c:
PA2654c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGAGCGGCCACGCGTTGGCT (BglII)
PB2654c: 5'- CTCCCATGGTCACGGCGGATCACCCCGGTC (NcoI)
Rv3020c:
PA3020c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGAGTTTGTTGGATGCCCAT (BglII)
PB3020c: 5'- CTCCCATGGTTAAAACCCGGTGTAGCTGGA (NcoI)
Rv3444c:
PA3444c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGAACGCAGACCCCGTG-3 '(BglII)
PB3444c: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCCTAGCGTGCCCAAGCTCC-3 '(BamHI)
Rv3445c:
PA3445c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGGTTGAACCGGGAAGG-3 '(BglII)
PB3445c: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCCTATAGGTCGCCGCCGGC-3 '(BamHI)
Rv3890c:
PA3890c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGTCAGATCAAATCACG-3 '(BglII)
PB3890c: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCTTAGAACAAGCCCGCG-3 '(BamHI)
Rv3891c:
PA3891c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGGCAGACACAATTCAGG-3 '(BglII)
PB3891c: 5'- CTAAGCTTCCCGGGTCAGGATCCGTGGCTAGC-3 '(SmaI)
Rv3904c:
PA3904c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGGATCCGACCGTGTTGG-3 '(BglII)
PB3904c: 5'- CTGCCATGGTCACGACCACATACCC-3 '(NcoI)
Rv3905c:
PA3905c: 5'- CTGAGATCTATGGGTGCCGACGACAC-3 '(BglII)
PB3905c: 5'- CTAAGCTTGGATCCTCAGCCACCGCCCACC-3 '(BamHI)

  The primers listed above provide the restriction sites indicated after each sequence. The restriction site is used for cloning into pMCT3. If an initiation codon that replaces ATG is used in the native sequence, the primer introduces an ATG codon instead. The PCR reaction is 10 ng of M. tuberculosis chromosomal DNA, 0.4 pM of each primer and 50 μl of reaction volume in 1 × PCR buffer + Mg (Boehringer Manheim) with 400 μM dNTP mix (Boehringer Mannheim) Contains 1.5 units of Tag DNA polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim). Using a PTC-200 thermal cycler (MJ Research, Inc.), heat the reaction to 94 ° C for 5 minutes, then program 30 cycles of 92 ° C for 1 minute, 52 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 2 minutes And completed at 72 ° C. for 7 minutes. The PCR product was cloned into the pRC2.1 cloning vector and transformed into One Shot® E. coli cells (Invitrogen, Leek, The Netherlands) as described by the manufacturer. Plasmid DNA was digested with appropriate restriction enzymes (see primer sequences), cloned into pMCT3 and transformed into E. coli XL-1 Blue cells. The correct insertion was always confirmed by sequencing. DNA sequencing was performed with Statens Serum Institut using a cycle sequencing system in combination with an automated gel reader (model 373A; Applied Biosystems).

Expression and purification of recombinant Rv0287, Rv1036c, Rv1037c, Rv2346c, Rv2348c, Rv2653c, Rv2654c, Rv3020c, Rv3444c, Rv3445c, Rv3890c, Rv3891c, Rv3904c and Rv3905c Performed as described by the vendor. LB-medium containing 100 μg / ml ampicillin and 12.5 μg / ml tetracycline was inoculated with an overnight culture of XL1-Blue cells containing recombinant pMCT3 plasmid. The culture was shaken at 37 ° C. until the density of OD ₆₀₀ reached 0.5. IPTG was then added to a final concentration of 1 mM and the culture was further incubated for 2-16 hours. Cells were harvested and resuspended in 1 × sonication buffer + 8 M urea and sonicated for 5 × 30 seconds with a 30 second pause between pulses. After centrifugation, the lysate was applied to a column containing 10 ml of talon resin (Clontech, Palo Alto, USA). The column was washed and eluted as described by the manufacturer.
Fractions containing the recombinant protein are pooled to obtain a homogeneous protein preparation, and the pooled fractions are subjected to anion exchange (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden).

Synthesis of synthetic peptides
The three antigens (Rv3444c, Rv3890c and Rv3905c) are the ABIMD peptide synthesizer (ABIMED) , Langenfeld, Germany) was synthesized as a synthetic peptide by standard solid phase method.
The peptide included the following amino acids;
Rv3444c p1: SEQ.ID.NO. 21: Amino acids 1-18
Rv3444c p2: SEQ. ID. NO. 21: Amino acids 11-28
Rv3444c p3: SEQ. ID. NO. 21: Amino acids 21-38
Rv3444c p4: SEQ. ID. NO. 21: Amino acids 31-48
Rv3444c p5: SEQ. ID. NO. 21: Amino acids 41-58
Rv3444c p6: SEQ. ID. NO. 21: Amino acids 51-68
Rv3444c p7: SEQ. ID. NO. 21: Amino acids 61-78
Rv3444c p8: SEQ.ID.NO. 21: Amino acids 71-88
Rv3444c p9: SEQ.ID.NO. 21: amino acids 81-100

Rv3890c p1: SEQ.ID.NO. 25: amino acids 1-18
Rv3890c p2: SEQ. ID. NO. 25: Amino acids 11-28
Rv3890c p3: SEQ. ID. NO. 25: Amino acids 21-38
Rv3890c p4: SEQ.ID.NO. 25: Amino acids 31-48
Rv3890c p5: SEQ. ID. NO. 25: Amino acids 41-58
Rv3890c p6: SEQ. ID. NO. 25: Amino acids 51-68
Rv3890c p7: SEQ.ID.NO. 25: Amino acids 61-78
Rv3890c p8: SEQ.ID.NO. 25: Amino acids 71-95

Rv3905c p1: SEQ.ID.NO. 31: Amino acids 1-18
Rv3905c p2: SEQ. ID. NO. 31: Amino acids 11-28
Rv3905c p3: SEQ. ID. NO. 31: Amino acids 21-38
Rv3905c p4: SEQ.ID.NO. 31: Amino acids 31-48
Rv3905c p5: SEQ. ID. NO. 31: Amino acids 41-58
Rv3905c p6: SEQ.ID.NO. 31: Amino acids 51-68
Rv3905c p7: SEQ.ID.NO. 31: Amino acids 61-78
Rv3905c p8: SEQ.ID.NO. 31: Amino acids 71-88
Rv3905c p9: SEQ.ID.NO.31: Amino acids 81-103

Example 3A: Induction of T cell line interferon-γ Purified recombinant protein was screened for the ability to induce a T cell response measured as IFN-γ release. Screening involved testing for induction of IFN-γ in T cell lines arising from PPD positive donors and / or measuring responses in PBMC preparations obtained from TB patients, healthy donors positive and negative for PPD.
Human donor: PBMCs were obtained from healthy donors with positive responses to PPD in vitro.
T cell line preparation: Viable M. tuberculosis for 1.5 hours by incubating freshly isolated 1-5 x 10 ⁶ PBMC at a ratio of 5 bacteria / cell in a total volume of 1 ml T cell lines were prepared (donors 1 and 2). After washing, cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco, Grand Island, NY) supplemented with HEPES and 10% heat-inactivated NHS. Alternatively, T cell lines were prepared by culturing 1-5 × 10 ⁶ freshly isolated PBMCs with 5 μg / ml ST-CF (donors 3-5). After culturing at 37 ° C. and 5% CO ₂ for 7 days, T cells were supplemented with 30-50 U of r-IL-2 (recombinant interleukin 2) (Boehringer Mannheim) for approximately 7 days. Finally, 5 μg / ml in the presence of 5 × 10 ⁵ autologous antigen presenting cells / ml (donors 1 and 2) or 1 × 10 ⁶ cells / irradiated (2000 RAD) ml of autologous PBMC (donor 3-5) Recombinant antigen by stimulating 1-5 × 10 ⁵ cells / ml with PPD and / or ST-CF, recombinant Rv2653c, Rv3891c, Rv3904c and Rv3444c, Rv3890c and Rv3905c peptide pools (2-9 peptides) And T cell lines were tested for reactivity to synthetic peptides. No antigen (No ag) and PHA were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Supernatants were harvested after 4 days of culture and stored at -20 ° C. until analyzed for the presence of IFN-γ.
The responses obtained with the different T cell lines are shown in Table 4. Here, donors 1 and 2 are based on a viable M. tuberculosis driven T cell line, while donors 3-5 are generated by stimulation with ST-CF.

  The results shown in Table 4 for peptides covering the recombinant antigens Rv2653c, Rv3891c and Rv3904c and the antigens Rv3444c, Rv3890c and Rv3905c indicate that these antigens can induce IFN-γ production in T cell lines arising from PPD positive individuals. Show.

Example 3B Induction of interferon-γ in human TB patients or BCG vaccinated human donors: PBMC is a healthy donor and culture or microscope vaccinated with BCG vaccine not known for exposure to M. tuberculosis Obtained from patients found to be infected with TB using laboratory methods. Blood samples were taken from TB patients 0-6 months after diagnosis.
Lymphocyte preparation and cell culture: PBMCs were freshly isolated by gradient centrifugation of heparinized blood with Lymphoprep (Nycomed, Oslo, Norway) and stored in liquid nitrogen until use. Supplemented with 1% penicillin / streptomycin (Gibo BRL, Life Technologies), 1% non-essential amino acids (FLOW, ICN Biomedicals, CA, USA), and 10% normal human AB0 serum (NHS) from a local blood bank Cells were resuspended in complete RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco, Grand Island, NY). Cell number and viability were measured by nigrosine staining. Cultures were established with 1.25 × 10 ⁵ PBMC in 50 μl on microtiter plates (Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark) and stimulated with ST-CF PDD, Rv0287, Rv1036c, Rv1037c, Rv2653c, Rv3445c, Rv3891c and Rv3904c. No antigen (No ag) and plant hemagglutinin (PHA) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. After 5 days of culturing and storage, supernatants for detecting cytokines were collected and stored at −80 ° C. until use.

Cytokine analysis: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was detected with a standard sandwich ELISA technique using a commercially available monoclonal antibody pair (Endogen) and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Recombinant IFN-γ (Endogen) was used as a reference. All data were the average of duplicate wells and the deviation between wells did not exceed 10% of the average. Cytokine levels below 50 pg / ml were considered negative. The responses for each of the 42 donors are shown in Tables 5 and 6.
As shown in Table 5, significant IFN-γ release is observed after stimulation with several recombinant proteins. For 6 donors, stimulation with Rv0287 produces a high IFN-γ response. When stimulated with Rv1037c, Rv3891c, and Rv3904c, 40% -60% of donors show a median of IFN-γ responses, whereas stimulation with Rv3445c in this experiment provides only a limited response. Absent.

  The results shown in Table 6 for recombinant antigens Rv1036c, Rv2653c, Rv3891c and Rv3904c show that these antigens induce IFN-γ production in healthy PPD and / or ST-CF positive individuals and / or PBMC from Tb patients Show what you can do.

Claims (16)

1) a fragment having a length of at least 12 amino acid residues from the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17; or 2) having the same length as the sequence of 1) and having at least 95% sequence identity; The following characteristics:
i) Less than 20 μg / ml suspension in a suspension consisting of approximately 2 × 10 ⁵ T-lymphocytes isolated from the spleen of mice 28 days after infection with 5 × 10 ⁴ virulent mycobacteria Ability to induce an in vitro reaction during primary infection with virulent mycobacteria, as determined by adding oligopeptides at a concentration and IFN-γ in the supernatant recovered after 3 days is at least 1,500 pg / ml;
ii) About 1.0-2.5 × 10 ⁵ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or whole blood collected from TB patients or PPD positive individuals 0-6 months after diagnosis, suspended at 20 μg / ml Ability to induce an in vitro recall reaction as determined by adding oligopeptides at a concentration below the turbidity and IFN-γ in the supernatant recovered after 5 days is at least 500 pg / ml, preferably 1,000 pg / ml ;
iii) When the serum of TB patients is diluted 1:20 in PBS and incubated with oligopeptides at a high concentration of 20 μg / ml, an OD of at least 0.1 is obtained by ELISA or a reaction that can be visually confirmed by Western blot Ability to elicit a specific antibody response in TB patients as determined by causing;
iv) Suspensions of approximately 1.0-2.5 × 10 ⁵ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from clinically or semi-clinically toxic mycobacterial individuals with less than 20 μg / ml suspension By adding the oligopeptide at a concentration, the IFN-γ in the supernatant collected after 5 days is at least 500 pg / ml, preferably by not inducing the release of IFN-γ in individuals not infected with toxic mycobacteria The ability to elicit a positive in vitro response, as determined;
v) To the suspension of T cell lines from PPD positive individuals 1-5 × 10 ⁵ cells / ml, oligopeptide was added at a concentration of less than 20 μg / ml suspension and the supernatant recovered 3-5 days later Ability to elicit a positive in vitro response, as determined by having an IFN-γ in it of at least 500 pg / ml;
vi) The oligopeptide was added to a suspension of 1 to 5 × 10 ⁵ cells / ml of a T cell line from a PPD positive individual at a concentration of less than 20 μg / ml suspension, and the supernatant collected 3 to 5 days later Ability to elicit a positive in vitro response as determined by T cell proliferation with a stimulation index (SI) of at least 5 when assessed by the amount of IFN-γ in Calculated as [Average number per minute] / [Average number per minute without antigen]);
vii) Determined by showing a positive reaction at least 10 mm in diameter 72-96 hours after intradermal injection or topical application of up to 100 μg oligopeptide to individuals infected clinically or semiclinically with toxic mycobacteria Ability to induce a positive DTH response;
viii) When clinically or semiclinically toxic mycobacterial infected individuals show a positive reaction with a diameter of at least 5 mm after 72-96 hours when injected intradermally or topically with 100 μg of oligopeptide, preferably Comprises an oligopeptide having at least one ability to elicit a positive DTH response, determined by not inducing said response in individuals infected with virulent mycobacteria, said oligopeptide being recombinant in non-mycobacterial host cells An immunological composition produced by the method or synthesized by solid phase or liquid phase peptide synthesis methods. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said oligopeptide fragment has a length of at least 20 amino acid residues. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said oligopeptide fragment has a length of at least 24 amino acid residues. 4. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oligopeptide fragment has a length of at least 304 amino acid residues. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the oligopeptide fragment does not have any signal sequence. Fusion comprising an oligopeptide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 and at least one fusion partner selected from the group consisting of ESAT-6, ESAT6 T cell epitope, CFP10 and CFP10 T cell epitope A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising a protein. 7. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the oligopeptide or fusion protein is lipidated to allow the oligopeptide or fusion protein to self-adjuvant. 8. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sequence identity of the oligopeptide is at least 98%. An oligopeptide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, ESAT-6 (SEQ ID NO: 2), T cell epitope of ESAT6, CFP10 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and T cell epitope of CFP10 7. A composition according to claim 6 consisting of at least two different polypeptide fragments selected from the group consisting of. The composition according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising an immunologically and pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, vehicle or adjuvant. The carrier is selected from the group consisting of a polymer to which the oligopeptide binds by hydrophobic non-covalent interactions, a polymer to which the oligopeptide is covalently bonded, and a polypeptide; the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a diluent and a suspending agent; And the adjuvant is dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA), Quil A, poly I: C, Freund's incomplete adjuvant, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and muramyl dipeptide ( A composition according to claim 10 selected from the group consisting of (MDP). The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which is in the form of a skin test reagent. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which is a composition for detecting tuberculosis in animals including humans based on significant release of at least one cytokine by mononuclear cells. 13. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12 comprising detection means. Preparation, synthesis or isolation of an oligopeptide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, and solubilization or dispersion of the oligopeptide in a suitable medium, optionally other M. tuberculosis antigens and / or Or a transformed cell comprising at least one replicable expression vector comprising a carrier, vehicle and / or adjuvant material, or comprising a nucleic acid sequence, the nucleic acid sequence according to any one of claims 1-5. 16. A method according to any of claims 8 to 15, comprising culturing transformed cells having a sequence encoding a defined oligopeptide and transferring the cells to a vaccine medium, optionally adding a carrier, vehicle and / or adjuvant material. A method for producing a composition by Providing a blood sample derived from an animal or a human, comprising contacting the sample derived from an animal with the oligopeptide defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 or the fusion protein defined in claim 6; Past or present sensitization with bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis group in animals or humans, where significant release of at least one cytokine into the extracellular phase by mononuclear cells in the sample indicates that the animal is sensitized How to detect.

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