WO1986002357A1

WO1986002357A1 - Monoclonal antibodies and their use

Info

Publication number: WO1986002357A1
Application number: PCT/GB1985/000468
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce William Wright; Peter John Cox; Alice Margaret Noyes; Danny Widdows; Donna Maria Yvonne Petherick
Original assignee: Technology Licence Company Limited
Priority date: 1984-10-19
Filing date: 1985-10-16
Publication date: 1986-04-24
Also published as: EP0198002A1; GB8426466D0

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies to the genus Mycobacterium, the labelled antibodies, compositions and kits containing them, and their use in diagnosis of antigen and treatment.

Description

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND THEIR USE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Of current interest in the fields of analysis and diagnosis is the use of monoclonal antibodies to determine the presence of antigens or species in specimens such as urine, blood, water, milk, and the like.

More particularly, monoclonal antibodies specific for the antigens or species of Mycobac¬ terium are desired which when used will rapidly diagnose the presence of such organisms in speci¬ mens.

Divisions have been made among the Mycobac¬ terium species. Some of the representative members include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. butyricum, M. chelonei, M. marinum, M. phlei, M. smegirtetis, and M. leprae.

SUBSTITUTE 8H££T Mycobacterium will be described with partic¬ ular reference to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as it is the best known species. M. tuberculosis is the causative agent in tuberculosis, which is one of the most common and important infectious diseases of mankind. Tuberculosis attacks the lung in the primary infection in human-human transmission where it produces a chronic pneumonia indistinguishable from many other chronic pneu¬ monias. It may then progress in the lungs to

SUBSTITUTE SHEET cavities which are distinctive but still require differentiation from many of the other fungal - infections. Tuberculosis diagnosis is costly and time consuming because of the technical skill required and the very slow growth character¬ istics of the organism. Diagnosis may often be delayed and sometimes missed.

Tuberculosis can, in some patients, ravage the body with abcesses in every organ. It can produce meningitis, bone involvement, and it can involve the spleen and liver and the genital tracts of males and females. Extensive control programs and treatment of active cases have caused the disease to dramatically decline in the United States in the last twenty-five years. This has led to lessened skills in the routine microbiology lab in its diagnosis in many areas of the country where the disease is not common. Since it is such a highly infectious disease, and since so many cases have been imported into the United States from Asia, and to the United Kingdom from Asia and Africa, the expection is that a rise in frequency of disease-bearing patients could lead to a flare up in the United States and elsewhere. Applicant's invention will assist in the immediate detection of Mycobac- terium tuberculosis in tissue, sputum, and other excretions of humans and animals for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis. The frequency with which chronic pneumonias are evaluated for tuberc¬ ulosis is very high in the United States and elsewhere and the evaluation is costly, time consuming, expensive, and insensitive. Thus, the invention can be used as a part of a system¬ atic kit to exclude pneumonia, fungal, and/or tuberculin infections.

A wide variety of isotopic and nonisotopic immunoassays have been utilized in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies to test for the pres¬ ence of an antigenic substance. At the present time, agglutination, immuno-fluorescent, .che ilum- inescent or. fluorescent immunoassay, immuno- electron microscopy, radiometric assay systems, radio immunoassays, and enzyme-linked immunoassays are the most common techniques used with the monoclonal antibodies. Other techniques include biolu inescent, fluorescence polarization, and photon-counting immunoassays.

When utilizing the enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure (EIA), it is necessary to bind, or conjugate, the monoclonal antibody with an enzyme capable of functioning in such assay; such as alkaline phosphatase.

The enzyme-linked monoclonal antibody can then be used in the known enzyme-linked immunosor- bent assay procedure to determine the presence of an antigenic substance.

After the specific antigen is identified, the serotype of the infecting organism can be determined, and appropriate treatment can then be initiated to rapidly and efficiently eliminate the disease.

The production of monoclonal antibodies is now a well-known procedure first described by Kohler and Milstein (Eur. J. Immunol. , 292 (1975)). While the general technique of preparing hybridomas and the resultant monoclonal antibodies is understood, it has been found that preparing a specific monoclonal antibody to a specific antigen is difficult, mainly due to the degree of specificity and variations required in producing a particular hybridoma. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel mono¬ clonal antibodies for use in accurately and rapidly diagnosing samples for the presence of Mycobacterium antigens and/or organisms.

Briefly stated, the present invention com- prises monoclonal antibodies specific for an antigen or species of Mycobacterium; in partic¬ ular, the antigens or species of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (designated as M. tuberculosis I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, or VIII), and the antigens or species of M. butyricum, M. chelonei, M. marinum, M. phlei, M. smegmetis, _M. leprae as well as a monoclonal antibody broadly cross- reactive with an antigen for each species of the genus Mycobacterium.

The invention also comprises labeled mono¬ clonal antibodies for use in diagnosing the presence of the Mycobacterium antigens, each comprising a monoclonal antibody against one of the above-mentioned antigens to Mycobacterium or to a particular species thereof and linked thereto an appropriate label. The label can be chosen from the group consisting of a radio¬ active isotope, enzyme, fluorescent compound, che iluminescent compound, bioluminescent com¬ pound, ferromagnetic atom, or particle, or any other label.

The invention further comprises the process for diagnosing the presence of Mycobacterium antigens or organisms in a specimen comprising contacting said specimen with the labeled mono- clonal antibody in an appropriate immunoassay procedure.

Additionally, the invention is also directed to a therapeutic composition comprising a mono¬ clonal antibody for an antigen of Mycobacterium and a carrier or diluent, as well as kits contain¬ ing at least one labeled monoclonal antibody to an antigen of a Mycobacteriu .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The monoclonal antibodies of the present invention are prepared by fusing spleen cells, from a mammal which has been immunized against the particular Mycobacterium antigen, with an appropriate myeloma cell line, preferably NSO (uncloned), P3NS1-Ag4/1, or Sp2/0 Agl4. The resultant product is then cultured in a standard HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine) medium. Screening tests for the specific mono¬ clonal antibodies are employed utilizing immuno¬ assay techniques which will be described below.

The immunized spleen cells may be derived from any mammal, such as primates, humans, rodents (i.e., mice, rats, and rabbits), bovine, ovine, canine, or the like, but the present invention will be described in connection with mice. The mouse is first immunized by injection of the particular Mycobacterium antigen chosen gener¬ ally for a period of approximately eleven weeks. When the mouse shows sufficient antibody produc¬ tion against the antigen, as determined by conven¬ tional assay, it is given a booster injection of the appropriate Mycobacterium antigen, and then killed so that the immunized spleen may be removed. The fusion can then be carried out utilizing immunized spleen cells and an appropriate myeloma cell line.

The fused cells yielding an antibody which give a positive response to the presence of the particular Mycobacterium antigen are removed and cloned utilizing any of the standard methods. The monoclonal antibodies from the clones are then tested against standard antigens to determine their specificity for the particular Mycobacterium antigen. The monoclonal antibody selected, which is specific for the particular Mycobacterium antigen or species, is then bound to an appropri¬ ate label.

Amounts of antibody sufficient for labeling and subsequent commercial production are produced by the known techniques, such as by batch or continuous tissue culture or culture in vivo in mammals, such as mice. The monoclonal antibodies may be labeled with a multitude of different labels, such as enzymes, fluorescent compounds, luminescent compounds, radioactive compounds, ferromagnetic labels, and the like. The present invention will be described with reference to the use of an enzyme labeled monoclonal antibody. Some of the enzymes utilized as labels are alkaline phosphatase, glucose oxidase, galactosidase, peroxidase, or urease, and the like.

Such linkage with enzymes can be accomplished by any one of the conventional and known methods, such as the Staphylococcal Protein A method, the glutaraldehyde method, the benzoquinone method, or the periodate method.

Once the labeled monoclonal antibody is formed, testing is carried out employing one of a wide variety of conventional immunoassay methods. The particular method chosen will vary according to the monoclonal antibody and the label chosen. At the present time, enzyme immunoassays are preferred due to their low cost, reagent stability, safety, sensitivity, and ease of procedure. One example is enzyme- linked im unosorbent assay (EIA). EIA is a solid phase assay system which is similar in design to the radiometric assay, but which util¬ izes an enzyme in place of a radioactive isotope as the immunoglobulin marker.

Fluorescent-immunoassay is based on the labeling of antigen or antibody with fluorescent probes. A nonlabeled antigen and a specific antibody are combined with identical fluorescently labeled antigen. Both labeled and unlabeled antigen compete for antibody binding sites. The amount of labeled antigen bound to the antibody is dependent upon, and therefore a measurement of, the concentration of nonlabeled antigen. Examples of this particular type of fluorescent- immunoassay would include heterogenous systems such as Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Immunoassay, or homogeneous systems such as the Substrate Labeled Fluorescent Immunoassay. The most suit¬ able fluorescent probe, and^" the one most widely used is fluorescein. While fluorescein can be subject to considerable interference from scattering, sensitivity can be increased by the use of a fluorometer optimized for the probe utilized in the particular assay and in which the effect of scattering can be minimized.

In fluorescence polarization, a labeled sample is excited with polarized light and the is measured. As the antigen binds to the antibody its rotation slows down and the degree of polari¬ zation increases. Fluorescence polarization is simple, quick, and precise. However, at the present time its sensitivity is limited to the micromole per liter range and upper nano- mole per liter range with respect to antigens in biological samples.

Luminescence is the emission of light by an atom or molecule as an electron is transferred to the ground state from a higher energy state. In both chemiluminescent and bioluminescent reactions, the free energy of a chemical reaction provides the energy required to produce an inter¬ mediate reaction or product in an electronically excited state. Subsequent decay back to the ground state is accompanied by emission of light. Bioluminescence is the name given to a special form of chemiluminescence found in biological systems, in which a catalytic protein or enzyme, such as luciferase, increases the efficiency of the luminescent reaction. The best known chemiluminescent substance is luminol.

A further aspect of the present invention is a therapeutic composition comprising one or more of the monoclonal antibodies to the particular Mycobacterium antigen or species, as well as a pharmacologically acceptable carrier or diluent. Such compositions can be used to treat humans and/or animals afflicted with some form of Mycobacterium infections and they are used in amounts effective to cure; an amount which will vary widely dependent upon the individ¬ ual being treated and the severity of the infec¬ tion.

One or more of the monoclonal antibodies can be assembled into a diagnostic kit for use in diagnosing for the presence of an antigen, antigens, or species of Mycobacterium in various specimens. It is also possible to use the broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibody which can identify the genus Mycobacterium alone or as part of a kit containing antibodies that can identify other bacterial genera or species of Mycobacterium and/or other bacteria.

In the past there have been difficulties in developing rapid kits because of undesirable cross-reactions of specimens with antiserum. The use of monoclonal antibodies can eliminate these problems and provide highly specific and rapid tests for diagnosis. A rapid and precise kit could replace or augment existing tests and permit early direct therapy using precise antibiotics. Avoiding multiple antibiotics or more expensive or hazardous antibiotics would represent substantial patient and hospital sav¬ ings. Additionally, a kit can be used on an out-patient basis. At present the lack of a rapid test giving "same day" answers may delay the initiation of treatment until the patient has developed more severe symptoms or may require the initiation of more costlyj therapy in a sick patient. A test that would refurn results within ϊ an hour or two would be a substantial convenience to patients.

In addition to being sold individually, the kit could be included as a component in a comprehensive line of compatible immunoassay reagents sold to reference ^"laboratories to detect the species and serotypes of Mycobacterium.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention is a diagnostic kit comprising at least one labeled monoclonal antibody against a particular Mycobacterium antigen or species, as well as any appropriate stains, counterstains, or reagents. Further embodiments include kits containing at least one control sample of a Mycobacterium antigen and/or a cross-reactive labeled monoclonal antibody which would detect the presence of any of the Mycobacterium organisms in a^' particular sample. Specific antigens to be detected in this kit include the antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (applicant has further divided this species into eight subgroups: M. tuberculosis I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, or VIII), M. butyricum, M. chelonei, M. marinum, M. phlei, M. smegmetis, and M. leprae.

Monoclonal diagnostics which detect the presence of Mycobacterium antigens can also be used in periodic testing of water sources, food supplies and food processing operations. Thus, while the present invention describes the use of the labeled monoclonal antibodies to determine the presence of a standard antigen, the invention can have many applications in diagnosing the presence of antigens by determining whether specimens such as urine, blood, stool, water, milk, and the like contain the particular Mycobacterium antigen. More particularly, the invention could be utilized as a public health and safety diagnostic aid, whereby specimens such as water or food could be tested for possible contamination. The invention will be further illustrated in connection with the following Examples which are set forth for the purposes of illustration only and not by way of limitation.

In the Examples:

API = Analytical Profile Index (ref. Ayerst Labs)

DMEM = Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium

FCS = Foetal Calf Serum

PBS = phosphate-buffered saline % T refers to vaccine concentration measured in a 1 cm light path

Monoclonal antibodies of the present invention are prepared generally according to the method of Koehler and Milstein, Eur. J. Immunol. §_, (1975) 292. EXAMPLE 1

A. Antigen Preparation Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv (Trudeau

Institute, Saranai Lake, NY, USA) was grown on Santon's medium. The cells were harvested and disrupted by milling with glass beads. The resulting slurry was centrifuged at 5°C (300 rpm for 60 minutes, equivalent to 2800 x g) . The supernatant was drawn off and centrifuged at 50,000 x g for 1 hour at 5°C. The supernatant was passed through a train of filters (5.0, 0.45 and 0.22 μm) . The sterile filtrate was stored at -20°C. The final protein concentration was 10.00 mg/ml.

B. Animal Immunisation Balb/c mice are injected with the prepared antigen.

They are first given 100 μl 80%T vaccine intraperitoneally and, 14 days later, 50 μl vaccine intravenously. The mice are bled approximately six days after the last injection and the serum tested for antibodies by assay. A conventional assay used for this serum titer testing is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system. When the mice show antibody production after this regimen, generally a positive titer of at least 10,000, a mouse is selected as a fusion donor and given a booster injection (50 μl 80% T vaccine) intravenously, three days prior to splenectomy. C. Cell Fusion

Spleen cells from the immune mice are harvested three days after boosting, by conventional techniques.

First, the donor mouse selected is killed and surface-sterilised by immersion in 70% ethyl alcohol. The spleen is then removed and immersed in approximately 2.5 ml DMEM to which has been added 3% FCS. The spleen is then gently homogenised in a LUX homogenising tube until all cells have been released from the membrane, and the cells are washed in 5 ml 3% FCS-DMEM. The cellular debris is then allowed to settle and the spleen cell suspension placed in a 10 ml centrifuge tube. The debris is then rewashed in 5 ml 3% FCS-DMEM. 50 ml suspension are then made in 3% FCS-DMEM.

The myeloma cell line used is NSO (uncloned) , obtained from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. The myeloma cells are in the log growth phase, and rapidly dividing. Each cell line is washed using, as tissue culture medium, DMEM containing 3% FCS.

The spleen cells are then spun down at the same time that a relevant volume of myeloma cells are spun down (room temperature for 7 minutes at 600 g) , and each resultant pellet is then separately resuspended in 10 ml 3% FCS-DMEM. In order to count the myeloma cells, 0.1 ml of the suspension is diluted to 1 ml and a haemacytometer with phase microscope is used. In order to count the spleen cells, 0.1 ml of the suspension is diluted to 1 ml with Methyl Violet-citric acid solution, and a haemacytometer and light microscope are used to count the stained nuclei of the cells. 1 x 108 Spleen cells are then mixed with 5 x 107 myeloma cells, the mixture washed in serum-free DMEM high in glucose, and centrifuged, and all the liquid removed.

The resultant cell pellet is placed in a 37°C water-bath. 1 ml of a 50 w/v solution of polyethylene glycol 1500

(PEG) in saline Hepes, pH approximately 7.5, is added, and the mixture gently stirred for approximately 1.5 minutes. 10 ml serum-free tissue culture medium DMEM are then slowly added, followed by up to 50 ml of such culture medium, centrifugation and removal of all the supernatant, and resuspension of the cell pellet in 10 ml of DMEM containing 18% by weight FCS.

10 μl of the mixture are placed in each of 480 wells of standard multiwell tissue culture plates. Each well contains 1.0 ml of the standard HAT medium (hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thy idine) and a feeder layer of Balb/c

4 macrophages at a concentration of 5 x 10 macrophages/well.

The wells are kept undisturbed, and cultured at 37°C in 9% CO_ air at approximately 100% humidity. The wells are analysed for growth, utilising the conventional inverted microscope procedure, after about 5 to 10 days.

In those wells in which growth is present in the inhibiting HAT medium, screening tests for the specific monoclonal antibody are made utilising the conventional enzyme immunoassay screening method described below.

Somewhere around 10 days to 14 days after fusion, sufficient antibody against the antigen may develop in at least one well. D. Cloning

From those wells which yielded antibody against the antigen, cells are removed and cloned using the standard agar or dilution method.

The clones may be assayed by the enzyme immunoassay method to determine antibody production. E. Monoclonal Selection

The monoclonal antibodies from the clones are screened by the standard techniques for binding to the antigen, prepared as in the immunisation, and for specificity in a test battery of the class bearing^' different antigens. Specifically, a grid of microtiter plates containing a representative selective of organisms is prepared and utilised as a template to define the specificity of the parent group. Clones reacting to antigens present in other genera, e.g. E^_ coli are discarded. The EIA immunoassay noted above may be used.

F. Antibody Production and Purification

Balb/c mice were primed with pristane for at least 7 days, and were then injected with 10^' cells of the monoclonal antibody-producing cell line. Ascitic fluid was harvested when the mice were swollen with fluid but still alive. The fluid was centrifuged at 1200 g for approximately 10 minutes, the cells discarded and the antibody-rich ascites collected and stored at -20 C. Ascites fluid was filtered through glass wool and centrifuged at 30,000 g for 10 minutes. The ascites was then diluted with twice its own volume of cold phosphate buffer (0.1M sodium phosphate, pH 8.2). The diluted ascites was applied to a 2 ml column of Protein A-Sepharose, previously equilibrated with phosphate buffer. The column was washed with 40 ml of phosphate buffer. The monoclonal antibody was eluted with citrate buffer (0.1M sodium citrate, pH 3.5) into sufficient 1M TRIS buffer, pH 9.0 to raise the pH immediately to about 7.5. The eluate was dialysed in PBS, pH 7.4, at 4 C and stored at -20 C.

G. Enzyme-Monoclonal Linkage

The monoclonal antibody specific against the antigen, prepared as above, is linked to an enzyme, viz. highly-purified alkaline phosphatase. Monoclonal antibody was dialysed with alkaline phosphatase (Sigma Type VII-T) , against 2 x 1000 ml of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 at +4 C. After dialysis the volume was made up to 2.5 ml with PBS and 25 μl of a 20% glutaraldehyde in PBS solution added. The conjugation mixture was left at room temperature for 1.5 hours. After this time glutaraldehyde was removed by gel filtration on a Pharmacia PD-10 (Sephadex G-25M) column, previously equilibrated in PBS. The conjugate was eluted with 3.5 ml PBS. The conjugate was then dialysed vs 2 x 2000 ml of TRIS buffer (50 mM TRIS, 1 mM magnesium chloride, pH 8.0 + 0.02% sodium azide) at +4 C. To the dialysed conjugate was added l/10th its own volume of 10% BSA in TRIS buffer. The conjugate was then sterile filtered through a 0.22 μm membrane filter into a sterile amber vial and stored at +4 C. EXAMPLE 2

The general procedure of Example 1 was followed, in most respects. The antigen was Mycobacterium tuberculosis obtained from the Royal Post-graduate Medical School. A pressate was obtained by milling viable organisms, centrifuging them for 1 hour, 5 C, 300 rpm, centrifuging the supernatant at 50,000 g for 1 hour at 5 C, and filtering the supernatant. The animal immunisation schedule comprised an ip injection followed by 3 iv injections after successive 2, 3 and 1 week intervals. Cloning was by limiting dilution. In limiting dilution, dilutions of cells suspensions in 18% FCS-DMEM + Balb/c mouse macrophages were made to achieve 1 cell/well and half cell/well in a 96-well microtitre plate. The plates were incubated for

7-14 days at 37 C, 95% RH, 7-9% C0_ until semi-confluent. The supernatants were then assayed for specific antibody by the standard enzyme immunosorbent assay. The monoclonal was specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to a strain (H37RV) thereof, and negative to other species of Mycobacteria, E . coli, Shigella, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Salmonella and Streptococcus.

The conjugate was tested. The sub-class was IgG2a. EXAMPLE 3

The general procedure of Example 1 may be followed to produce a monoclonal antibody broadly cross-reactive with an antigen of all species of the genus Mycobacterium.

Tests using the present invention are superior to existing tests, based on the following advantages: (i) greater accuracy; (ii) same day results, within an hour or two; (iii) reduction in amount of skilled labour required to administer laboratory procedures, resulting in reduced labour costs; (iv) reduction in laboratory time and space used in connection with tests, resulting in reduced overhead expenses; and (v) improved therapy based upon early, precise diagnosis.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may - be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A monoclonal antibody specific for an antigen or species of Mycobacterium.

2. The antibody of ^'Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis.

3. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis I.

4. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis II.

5. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis III.

6. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis IV.

7. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc- ulosis V.

8. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis VI.

9. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis VII.

10. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium tuberc¬ ulosis VIII.

11. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to • the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium butyri- cum.

12. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium chelonei.

13. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium marinum.

14. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium phlei.

15. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium smegme- tis.

16. The antibody of Claim 1 specific to the antigen or antigens of Mycobacterium leprae.

17. A monoclonal antibody broadly cross- reactive with an antigen of all species of the genus Mycobacterium.

18. A labeled monoclonal antibody consisting essentially of a monoclonal antibody of' Claims 1-17 and an appropriate label.

19. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 18, wherein said label is^' a member of the group selected from a radioactive isotope, enzyme, fluorescent compound, bioluminescent compound, chemiluminescent compound, or ferro¬ magnetic atom, or particle.

20. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 19, wherein said label is an enzyme capable of conjugating with a monoclonal antibody and of being used in an enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure.

21. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 20, wherein^" said enzyme is alkaline phos- phatase, glucose oxidase, galactosidase, or peroxidase.

22. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 19, wherein said label is a fluorescent compound or probe capable of being used in an immuno-fluorescent or fluorescent immunoassay procedure, enzyme fluorescent immunoassay, or fluorescence polarization immunoassay, photon counting immunoassay, or the like procedure.

23. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 22, wherein said fluorescent compound or probe is fluorescein.

24. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 19, wherein said label is a chemiluminescent compound capable of being used in a luminescent or enzyme-linked luminescent immunoassay.

25. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 24, wherein such che iluminescent compound is luminol or a luminol derivative.

26. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 19, wherein said label is a bioluminescent compound capable of being used in an appropriate bioluminescent immunoassay.

27. The labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 26, wherein such bioluminescent compound is luciferase or a luciferase derivative.

28. A process for diagnosing for the pre¬ sence of an antigen of Mycobacterium in a specimen comprising contacting at least a portion of said specimen with a labeled monoclonal antibody of Claim 18 in an immunoassay procedure appropri¬ ate for said label.

29. The process of Claim 28, wherein the appropriately labeled immunoassay procedure is selected from immuno-fluorescent or fluorescent immunoassay, immuno-electron microscopy, radio- metric assay systems, enzyme-linked immunoassays, fluorescence polarization, photon-counting bio¬ luminescent, or chemiluminescent immunoassay.

30. The process of Claim 29, wherein said label is an enzyme capable of being used in an enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure.

31. The process of Claim 30, wherein said enzyme is selected from alkaline phosphatase, glucose oxidase, galactosidase, or peroxidase.

32. The process of Claim 29, wherein said label is a fluorescent compound or^' probe capable of being used in an immuno-fluorescent or fluores¬ cent immunoassay procedure, enzyme fluorescent immunoassay, or f-luorescence polarization immuno¬ assay, or photon-counting immunoassay, or the like procedure.

33. The process of Claim 32, wherein said fluorescent compound or probe is fluorescein.

34. The process of Claim 29, wherein said label is a chemiluminescent compound capable of being used in a luminescent or enzyme-linked luminescent immunoassay.

35. The process of Claim 34, wherein said chemiluminescent compound is luminol or a luminol .

36. The process of Claim 29, wherein said label is a bioluminescent compound capable of being used in a bioluminescent or enzyme-linked bioluminescent immunoassay.

37. The process of Claim 36, wherein said bioluminescent compound is luciferase or a lucif- erase derivative.

38. A therapeutic composition comprising one or more of the labeled monoclonal antibodies in Claims 1-17 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

39. A therapeutic composition comprising one or more of the labeled monoclonal antibodies in Claim 18 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

40. A method of treating Mycobacterium infections comprising administering an effective amount of a monoclonal antibody of Claims 1-17.

41. A kit for diagnosing for the presence of an antigen or species of Mycobacterium in a diagnostic specimen comprising at least one monoclonal antibody of Claims 1-17.

42. The kit of Claim 41, wherein said at least one antibody is labeled.

43. The kit of Claim 42, wherein said at least one monoclonal antibody is labeled with a fluorescent compound.

44. The kit as in Claim 42, wherein said at least one monoclonal antibody is labeled with an enzyme.

45. The kit as in Claim 42, wherein said at least one monoclonal antibody is labeled with a member of the group consisting of a radio¬ active isotope, chemiluminescent compound, bio¬ luminescent compound, 'ferromagnetic atom, or particle.

46. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, and 45 additionally containing at least one known Mycobacterium antigen as a control.

47. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing each known antigen of Mycobac¬ terium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium butyricum, Mycobacterium chelonei, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium phlei, Mycobacterium smegmetis, and/or Mycobacterium leprae.

48. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

49. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium butyricum.

50. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium chelonei.

51. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium marinum.

52. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium phlei.

53. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium smegmetis.

54. The kit of Claims 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 containing the antigens of Mycobacterium leprae.

55. A kit for diagnosing for the presence of an antigen or species of Mycobacterium in a diagnostic specimen comprising at least one monoclonal antibody of Claims 1-17 and a control.

56. The kit of Claim 55, wherein said at least one antigen is labeled and said control is at least one known antigen of Mycobacterium.

57. A kit for diagnosing for the presence of a Mycobacterium infection comprising at least one monoclonal antibody of Claims 1-17.

58. The kit of Claim 57, wherein said at least one monoclonal antibody is labeled.