Immunological activity of a 38-kilodalton protein purified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A 38-kilodalton (kDa) protein antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was purified by monoclonal antibody TB71-based affinity chromatography. This molecule carries two nonoverlapping epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies TB71 and TB72, which are expressed substantially more strongly by M. tuberculosis than by Mycobacterium bovis. However, cross-reactive determinants between these two species were revealed on the 38-kDa protein by a rabbit anti-BCG serum. An immunoradiometric assay based on the TB71 and TB72 antibody pair specifically determined 38-kDa-antigen concentrations in mycobacterial extracts. Antibodies in sera from tuberculosis patients estimated by binding to 38-kDa-antigen-coated microtiter plates were positively correlated with TB72 competing titers. Unlike antibodies, T-cell proliferative responses to the 38-kDa protein were expressed equally by 60% of tuberculosis patients and healthy BCG-vaccinated subjects. Similarly, delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions were elicited in both M. tuberculosis- and M. bovis-sensitized guinea pigs. The results suggest the immunodominance of the species-specific B-cell and cross-reactive T-cell stimulatory epitopes.