Biochemical characterization of PE_PGRS61 family protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv reveals the binding ability to fibronectin.

OBJECTIVES: The periodic binding of protein expressed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with the host cell receptor molecules i.e. fibronectin (Fn) is gaining significance because of its adhesive properties. The genome sequencing of M. tuberculosis H37Rv revealed that the proline-glutamic (PE) proteins contain polymorphic GC-rich repetitive sequences (PGRS) which have clinical importance in pathogenesis events when the host encounters M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The functional parts of PE_PGRS family proteins, have not been extensively studied in tuberculosis biology.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fibronectin (10 ng and 20 ng) were used for FnBP assay and its enzymatic activities were observed by using various protein concentrations.
RESULTS: Therefore, in the present work, we cloned, expressed, purified and identified a novel PE_PGRS61 (Rv3653) family protein in M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Our experiment, observation suggested that at particular concentrations of 10 ng and 20 ng of Fn exhibits optimum binding to the purified Fibronectin Binding Protein (FnBP), a PE_PGRS61 family protein at 0.20 μg and 0.25 μg concentrations, respectively. Moreover, for better understanding the computational analysis, the B-cell and T-cell epitopes prediction prospect some amino acid propensity scales with hydrophilicity and antigenic variation index at their respective locations.
CONCLUSION: Thus, the current findings provide an opportunity to illuminate the functions of PE_PGRS61 family protein. So, in this point of view, it could be useful to develop a novel therapeutic approach or diagnostic pipeline through targeting these fibronectin binding protein (FnBP) expressing genes.

Introduction

Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (M. tuberculosis H37Rv) is one of the most common infectious agent to cause tuberculosis (TB). It is the major global health issue mediating ill-health and develop high mortality rate among millions of people each year. The rise in TB cases promotes mortality rate every year, it has been recorded that throughout the world around 8 million cases are evaluated of being infected by TB (1-3). It is estimated that, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection co-contamination, drug resistance with chemotherapy and delay in diagnosis are the high risk factors which have contributed further to disease development, particularly, in immune-compromised individuals (4). The M. tuberculosis H37Rv employs various ways to modulate host cell machinery for its own benefit. It is essential for the pathogen to maintain a status of equilibrium within the host, which allow for its persistence. Therefore, the discovery of new approaches, therapies and vaccine candidates are essential to overcome the epidemic effect of M. tuberculosis H37Rv worldwide. So, the emergence of host cell receptor molecules binding with the proteins expressed by mycobacterium reveals vital adhesive properties in the attachment remained the least understood phenomenon in pathogenesis aspects.

Deciphering the genome sequence of M. tuberculosis H37Rv exposed the two major uncommon and distinct gene families encoding 91 proline-glutamic acids (PE) and 61 PE_PGRS family proteins in the M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The PE/PPE multi-gene families account for 10% of total coding ability of the M. tuberculosis genome, which are characterized by a high GC content and extensively repetitive homologues sequences may involve in pathogenesis. The PE family comprises of two sub-families, the PE family (37 individuals in H37Rv) which codes nearly 110 amino acids and the PE_PGRS (polymorphic GC rich redundant groupings) family (63 individuals in H37Rv), and contain a conserved N-terminal PE domain followed by a variable-C terminal area rich in glycine and alanine-containing rehashes (5). In the earlier studies, it has been demonstrated that, the PE_PGRS family protein in the mycobacterium expressed few adhesive proteins possessing the binding ability to the host’s sticky, multidomain glycoprotein Fn receptor molecules (6, 7). Along with M. tuberculosis H37Rv, the other mycobacterium species, including M. leprae, M. vaccae, M. bovis, M. kanasii, M. smegmatis and M. bovis BCG etc. also carry a single copy of gene, which encodes for Fibronectin attachment protein (FAP) that has binding ability with the host’s Fn receptor molecule. Consistent with these observations, other bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) were also reported and that have been also demonstrated for Fibronectin Binding Protein (FnBP), which exhibit adhesion property followed by mucus colonization (8).

In this present study, we have chosen a novel family protein FnBP encoding gene, which is uncharacterized in its function till date. So, in useful points of interest the PE_PGRS61 family protein in M. tuberculosis H37Rv biology was not exposed. In our study, we cloned, expressed and purified a novel PE_PGRS61 family protein of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and examined its function. Thus, our experimental observations demonstrate that, a purified PE_PGRS61 family protein (i.e. FnBP) results of Rv3653 gene exhibited binding to Fn molecule. Previously reported studies have demonstrated that, FnBP are the extra-cellular, cell membrane associated protein expressed in limited concentra-tion through PE_PGRS family in M. tuberculosis H37Rv (9), So, the interaction between the FnBP expressed in M. tuberculosis H37Rv with the host recognizing receptor molecules Fn, may expose key opportunities to recognize potential target in M. tuberculosis H37Rv pathogenesis biology. In numerous pathogenic bacteria they employ their diverse cell surface adhesion protein (i.e. FnBPs), which may provide a passage of entry to mycobacterium by adhering with the host cell via particular binding site of Fn, like heparin-binding domain (HBD).

It may indicate that FnBP play a vital role in host-pathogen interaction that facilitates adhesion of mycobacterium with host cell during infection. In earlier studies, it was established that the Fn is a sticky, multi-domain glycoprotein which acts as a ligand, which interacts with integrin family protein receptor (α-8 β 1, α -5 β 1, α -II β 3, α -IIb- β 3 etc) on host cell surface lead to phagocytosis (10, 11). Previously, in a few studies it was shown that host-pathogen intera-ction component require a few expressed phagocytic receptors, including the group of integrin protein and complex glycolipids as lipoarabinomannan (LAM) on host cells (12). In this perspective, the expression of FnBP in different pathogenic bacterium facilitates adhesion, and promotes binding through the extracellular matrix associated molecule of the host cells, which furthermore involve in cell motility, attachments, cell morphology regulation and phagocytosis (7, 13-15). After interaction of M. tuberculosis H37Rv using host cell receptors, it regulates the host cell machinery appropriately for their survival and which give corner to bacilli that modify phagosome development, reproduce and express onset, in the presence of a defensive host immune system (16-18). The rising interest in the investigation of these expressive protein families in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, may be these comprise a precise role in pathogenesis, so, together with its motifs specificity and its exclusivity to bacilli in survival requires exposure. Our observation addresses towards the M. tuberculosis passage probability in the host cell and FnBP may include as an attachment protein in host-pathogen association relationship during phagocytosis.

Materials and Methods

Materials

Bacterial culture media for bacterial growth was purchased from Difco Laboratories (BBL-Difco Dickinson, New Delhi, India). The Reagents and chromatography materials were obtained from sigma chemical company (St Louis, MO, USA). Fibronectin (Biotinylated) was purchase from Labex Corporation, New Delhi, India. GST resin was purchased for purification (Glutathione sephrose-4B, Sigma-Aldrich); Expression plasmid pGEX-5X-3 was purchased from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (New Delhi, India).

Bacteria strain culture and growth

The Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains (DH5α and BL-21) were grown in Luria Broth and Luria Agar plate at 37 °C. M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain was obtained from Dr J S Tyagi, AIIMS, New Delhi, India, and was grown in the Middlebrook 7H9 broth in addition to 0.5% glycerol and 10% Albumin Dextrose Complex (ADC) for optimum growth at 37 °C on an incubator shaker at 220 rpm for 3-4 weeks.

Plasmid construction

M. tuberculosis H Rv genomic DNA was used as a template for amplification of PE_PGRS61 gene by polymerase chain reaction using the primers as Forward: 5’3’and Reverse: 5’3’. The amplified PCR product of PE_PGRS61 was digested with BamH1 and Xho1 and ligated into the pGEX-5X-3 plasmid. The recombinant clones (pGEX-PE_PGRS61) carrying the PE_PGRS61 gene insert were confirmed by gel electrophoresis.

Expression and Purification of PE_PGRS61 Family Protein

E. coli BL21 competent cells were transformed with the recombinant plasmid pGEX- PE_PGRS61. The Transformants were grown in LB medium containing 100 μg/ml of ampicillin at 37 °C shaking until Optical density (OD) reached at 0.5-0.6 and induced with 1 mM IPTG. Protein purification was done as described in earlier studies (19-22).

Fibronectin binding assay (FnBP-assay)

The Fn binding assay was performed in corning 96-well microtiter plates (23). With wash buffer 1- X PBS, a blocking solution 3% (w/v-1) bovine serum albumin (BSA), with dilution buffer, carbonate-bicarbonate buffer [pH 9.6], 1X-PBS and 0.1% BSA. To assay binding of biotinylated Fn to PE_PGRS61 protein the triplicate well of the microtiter plates were coated in carbonate-bicarbonate buffer by using various concentrations of protein in μg as 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, and 0.35 respectively in addition to various controls. The microtiter plates were incubated at 37 °C for 1 hr, followed by overnight incubation at 4 °C. After blocking the wells with blocking solution 3% (w/v-1) BSA, wells were incubated with indicated 10 ng and 20 ng concentrations of biotinylated Fn for 1 hr at room temperature on an orbital shaker. After 60 min incubation on a rocking platform, the wells were washed extensively, followed by addition of (1:5000) fold diluted alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin. Wells were again incubated for 1 hr, washed extensively and developed with 1 mg/ml para-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate for 1 hr in the dark place at room temperature. Plates were read on a microplate reader (Bio-Rad model 680 XR) equipped with 405 nm filter. Data were expressed as the mean absorbance value (A405) of triplicate wells.

Multiple sequence alignment

Amino acid multiple sequence alignment (MSA) of orthologs of PE_PGRS61 from different mycobac-terium’s species was obtained using MSA tool from MEGA 6.

Prediction of the signal peptide

The PE_PGRS61 protein sequence was analyzed by the signal 4.1 servers (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/-services/SignalP) (24).

Secondary structure prediction

The secondary structure was predicted by using PHD (https://www.predictprotein.org/home) and PSIPRED v3.3 (http://bioinf.cs.ucl.ac.uk) servers (25-29).

B-cell and T-cell epitopes prediction

The PE_PGRS61 protein primary sequence was used to predict B-cell and T-cell epitopes with various online bioinformatics tools. For the prediction of B-cells, tools as ABCpred, BCEpred, Bepipred were used but T-cell epitopes were predicted by using a Propred tool (30-31).

Results

Expression and Purification of PE_PGRS61Family Protein

The GST-fused proteins, i.e. GST-FnBP were purified and analyzed by 12% SDS-PAGE. The GST-fused proteins migrated at their predicted molecular size when compared with a protein ladder as a reference for accuracy as shown in (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Electrophoretic analysis of purified fibronectin binding protein (FnBP) by SDS-PAGE: The affinity column purified protein was separated out by using 12% SDS-PAGE and stained with SDS dye (coomassie blue). Lanes: 1kD (MW) proteins ladder, Lane 1: whole cell lysate, Lanes 2 to 4 purified protein of PE_PGRS61

Fibronectin binding protein assay

The binding ability and specificity of purify PE_PGRS61 family protein to Fn was determined by using the micro-titer plate assay. The wells were coated with PE_PGRS61 protein with different concentrations in μg as 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.30 and 0.35 of purified protein exhibits the maximum binding activity with 10 ng Fn to 0.20 μg of protein, but higher concentrations of protein leads to inhibition of the binding efficiency of the Fn shown in (Figure 2), Moreover, the maximum binding activities were observed at 0.25 μg of protein for 20 ng Fn. The binding efficiency subsequently declined with an increase in the concentration of the protein shown in Figure 3. The binding activity was confirmed by comparison to various positive and negative controls (data not shown).

Figure 2

Fibronectin binding assay: Purified PE_PGRS61 protein was used various concentrations of the same protein in sodium carbonate and bicarbonate buffer. After the protein incubation with indicated 10 ng of biotinylated Fn, followed by the addition of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin and developed with para-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNP) substrate. Plates were read on 405 nm filter. This demonstrates the optimum binding efficiency of fibronectin with 10 ng that binds to 0.20μg of PE_PGRS61 protein

Figure 3

Fibronectin binding assay: Purified PE_PGRS61 protein was used various concentrations of the same protein in sodium carbonate and bicarbonate buffer. After the protein incubation with indicated 20 ng of biotinylated Fn, followed by the addition of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin and developed with para-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate. Plates were read on 405 nm filter. This demonstrates the optimum binding efficiency of fibronectin with 20 ng that binds to 0.25μg of PE_PGRS61 protein

Multiple Sequence Alignment

The sequence M. tuberculosis H37Rv of PE_PGRS61 family protein shows orthologs homology with the conserved sequence when it was aligned with several different mycobacterium species under multiple sequence alignment Mega-6 tools as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4

Schematic representation of the multiple sequence alignment using Mega-6: The multiple sequence alignment of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv of one of primary protein PE_PGRS61 sequence result outs orthologs complete homology and demonstrates conserved sequence by comparing different mycobacterium species like M. smegmatis. M. africanum and M. bovis BCG by using Mega 6.0

Signal peptides prediction analysis

The signal 4.1 prediction server was used to analyze signal peptide prediction by sitting for Gram-positive bacteria with the D-Score cut-off value of 0.45. The result for the signal peptide search yields 22nd residue at highest Y-Score. The other two cleavage sites with comparatively lower Y-Score predicted to be at 19th and 30th residues in the protein sequence of PE_PGRS61. All the cleavage sites were predicted towards the carboxyl- terminal of Alanine as shown in supplementary Figure 1.

Supplementary Figure 1

The location of cleavage sites within Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv one of PE_PGRS61 family protein: Signal P 4.1servers demonstrates the location of most probable cleavage sites and resulting out for signal peptide search yields 22nd residue at highest Y-Score. The other two cleavage sites with comparatively lower Y-Score predicted to be at 19th and 30th residues in the protein sequence of PE_PGRS61

Protein Secondary Structure Prediction

The prediction of the protein structure in the (https://www.predictprotein.org/) server shows that these amino acid residues show the Helix (H) and the extended strand in beta-sheet (E). The viewer layout predicted features that correspond to regions of the PE_PGRS61 protein queried sequence. The positions of the amino acids show their protein binding region as well as polynucleotide binding regions respectively shown in (Supplementary Figure 2A). Whereas the PSIPRED server has predicted that the events of 1 helix extend from 6th -9th residue. Except the strands predicted at amino acid positions as shown in (Table 1), other strands involve in coil formation in secondary structure of protein along with the confidence of the prediction as depicted in Supplementary Figure 2C.

Supplementary Figure 2A and 2B

Protein Secondary structure Prediction: schematic organization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genomic PE_PGRS61 primary protein sequence containing some specific interactive domain region that contributes to exhibits interaction to protein binding region, as well polynucleotides binding regions respectively. b) Showing the PE_PGRS61 primary protein sequence containing several specific amino acid domains that participates in protein-protein interaction

Table 1

Showing the predicted residue of primary PE_PGRS61 family protein sequence comprise protein secondary structure formation and the epitope residues including B-cell and T-cell

S.No	Prediction Tools	Protein Secondary Structure	Epitope	Amino Acid Starting to Ending Position of Residue	Amino Acid Residue
1	PSIPRED	Helix Strand	--------- ---------	6th-9th 34th-36th, 89th -92nd, 134th -137th & 184th -186th	-TQAL- -ILF-, -LFGT-, -LFG- & -LL-
2	ABCpred	Coil	B-Cell	39th -52nd	-GGAGGSGAAGMAGG-
3	BCEpred*	Coil Coil + Strand	B-Cell	9th -15th & 99th -106th (Antigenic)* 25th -32nd, 34th -43rd, 63rd -69th, 108th -120th, 137th -149th &157th -165th (Flexibility)*	-LLGRPLV- & -GLSLGLGV- -TGANGGDG-, -ILFGSGGAGG-, -GGAGGAGG-, -GGAGGAGGSGGSD-, -AGEDGTTPGGNGG- & -FGDGGNGGN-
4	Bepipred*	Coil	B-Cell	15th -32nd, 39th -85th, 93rd -100th, 108th -131st, 139th -153rd, 158th -181st & 191st -193rd	-VGNGANGAPGTGANGGDG-, - GGAGGSGAAGMAGGNGGAAGLFGNGGAGGAGGSATAGAAGAGGNGGAG-, -GAGGNGGL-, -GGAGGAGGSGGSDTAGHGGT GGAG-, -EDGTTPGGNGGAGGV-, -GDGGNGGNAGVGTPAGNVGA GGTG- & -TGL-
5	MHC-Class-II	Coil	T-Cell	14th -21st	-LVGNGANG-

BCEpred

and Bepipred; Represent the analysis of B-cell epitope prediction on the basis of flexibility scale includes six epitope and the antigenic propensity scale predicted two epitope while Bepipred analysis given seven epitope residue.

Common Residue involve in B-Cell epitope*: (-T25GANGGDG32-,-G39GAGG43-,-G63GAGGAGG69-G93AGGNGGL100-, E139DGTTPGGNGG149 - and -V153AGLFG158 -)

Supplementary Figure 2C

The PSIPRED graphical output from the PE_PGRS61 primary protein sequence produced by PSIPRED view- A Java visualization prediction tool predicted the protein secondary structure and the events of 1 helix extends from 6th-9th residue showing that the protein sequence contains several specific residues of the amino acids that participates in helix, strands and coil structure with the confidence of the prediction in respective to various amino acid positions

B-cell epitope Prediction

ABCpred predicts several B-cell epitopes taking the overlapping window of 14 amino acids that results in the best probability score of 0.91 from the residues region “GGAGGSGAAGMAGG” that starts at 39th residue as shown in supplementary Figure 3A and in Table 1.

Supplementary Figure 3A and 3B

Showing a) The predicted B-Cell epitopes which are ranked according to their score obtained by the trained recurrent neural network analyze residue start position at 39th –GGAGGSGAAGMAGG- and at 140th –EDGTTPGGNGGAGG- and b) T-Cell epitope predicted the by using the Propred tool score reveals that one consensus epitope site LVGNGANGA in (DRB1_0101, HLA-DRB1*0102) is showing at the 14th -21st residue position that likely to be involved in T-cell epitope

Furthermore, BCEpred was used for implement-ting amino acid propensity scales of hydrophilicity, Antigenic index and flexibility in B-cell epitopes prediction shown in Table 1. The flexibility scale predicted 6 epitopes, and the Antigenic propensity scale predicted 2 epitopes lying in between the 9th-15th and 99th-106th amino acid residue in the PE_PGRS61 protein sequence. The flexibility shown in the sequences were on following residues shown in Table 1 without overlapping respectively.

The Bepipred Prediction method gives the sequence stretches shown in (Table 1) with the set threshold at 0.50 with 75% specificity. While at a default threshold of 0.35, the several residues were predicted for B-cell epitopes as 15th -35th, 38th -85th, 93rd -100th and 108th -131st, 138th -154th along with 157th -181st, 191st-193rd position in the PE_PGRS61 protein sequence.

T-Cell epitope prediction

Multiple DR-β1 (DRB) alleles were used like HLA-DRB1*0101, HLA-DRB1*0102, HLA-DRB1*0301 for the prediction of the T-cell epitopes with the MHC class-II binding region in the antigenic protein sequence of PE_PGRS61. The predicted binder was visualized in peak graphical interface as well as in color residue in an HTML interface. Two consensus epitopes were – LVGNGANGA in (DRB1_0101, HLA-DRB1*0102) at the 14th -21st residue position shown in (Table 1), but no epitope was observed in DRB1*0301 in sequence as their respective alleles at 1% threshold as shown in T-cell epitope prediction. While at 3% Threshold it gives another residue LLNAPTQALL (HLA-DRB1*0102) as shown in supplementary Figure 3B.

Discussion

The rapid development and characterization of PE_PGRS family proteins in M. tuberculosis H37Rv genome is helping out in identification of several adhesion proteins. For instance, in pathological aspects, FnBPs is a fibronectin attachment protein (FAP) that comprise a specific domain site for binding with the host receptor molecule (Fn) and antigen 85 complex involved in the immune invasion (6, 9, 32). Our study indicates that at specific concentrations like 10 ng and 20 ng of Fn binds efficiently to novel purified PE_PGRS61 family protein (Figure 1 and 3) and shows the particular size as depicted in SDS-PAGE (Figure 1). Although, it has also been reported, in other bacterial species including Staphylococcus aureus, expressed FnBPs possesses a connection site involve in adherence with host cell (7, 32). Our study demonstrated that the purified PE_PGRS61 family protein is viable protein associated with the surface of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and participate in host-pathogen interaction. Thus, PE_PGRS61 family protein exhibits optimum binding at 0.20 μg with 10 ng of biotinylated Fn as shown in Figure 2. Lower or higher concentrations, decreases the binding ability possibly due to the steric influence of these macromolecules. Essentially the binding efficiency continuously increases with concentration at 0.25 μg of 20 ng Fn and the binding movement declined with increase in protein concentration individually as demonstrated in Figure 3. Furthermore, the binding action was confirmed by comparing with different positive and negative controls (data not shown). For better understanding in our perceptions using bioinformatics analysis tool, we have suggested that the several amino acids at positions, a 7th -9th and 184th-186th comprise the protein binding sites, and among them 8 amino acids residue are crucial for binding with Fn receptor molecule as indicated in (Supplementary Figure 2A and 2B).

Additionally, for better understanding PE_PGRS61 protein (primary sequence), was compared with different mycobacterium species that demonstrate complete homologies with the conserved sequence as indicated in sequence alignment by using Mega-6 tool shown in Figure 4. Hence, it may indicate the significant involvement of PE_PGRS family proteins, which have important implications in pathology perspective. Reorgani-zation in the functions of this protein sequence could open a better way to deal with a focus for therapeutics.

The central step in designing the peptide vaccines comprises the identification of the B-cell and T-cell epitope. According to the accessibility of the essential auxiliary protein structure, B-cell and T-cell epitope were predicted using bioinformatics tools (25-31). PHD, an automatic mail server is used for protein secondary structure prediction. So, sequence-structure relationship helps in to focus the specific sequence motifs involved in protein secondary structure formation. For instance, the PSIPRED (a Java visualization prediction tool) identified several residues which are involved in a helix, beta strand and coil structure formation shown in supplementary Figure 2C (25, 28). For B-cell epitope prediction, the several amino acid residue (Table 1) at the 39th position of PE_PGRS61 family protein sequence analysis illustrates the maximum score of 0.93 at 0.51 thresholds as depicted in (supplementary Figure 3A), While BCEpred tool was employed to implement amino acid propensity scales of hydrophilicity, antigenic index, and flexibility with their respective positions. The several common residues involves for B-Cell epitope with a starting position of residues, which are crucial, including as T25GANGGDG32-,-G39GAGG43-,-G63GAGGAGG69-G93AGGNGGL100-, E139DGTTPGGNGG149 - and -V153AGLFG.158

In conclusive perspective, a successful homology modeling is not possible due to lack of modeled protein and no suitable template was available in the PDB database.

The T-cell epitopes were predicted and highlights one consensus epitope site that is LVGNGANGA in (DRB1_0101, HLA-DRB1*0102) involve in antigenic index as shown in supplementary Figure 3B at the 14th-21st residue position. The result needs to be verified by use of other tools in future. From the therapeutic point of view, it is very important to target the PE_PGRS61 family protein sequence motifs, which involved in protein-protein binding (supplementary Figure 2B), antigenic index and epitopes participation (supplementary Figure 3A and 3B). The profiling of the proteins or virulent factors actually expressed in the membrane compartment will reveal information on these pathways and possibly lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets. Thus, based on our analysis and the functional characterization of PE_PGRS61 family protein in M. tuberculosis H37Rv reveals novel FnBP-Fn binding property, which could help to target the host-pathogen interacting receptor molecules, which have significant contribution in pathological aspects of M. tuberculosis H37Rv, which aims in development of new therapeutic approach.

Conclusion

In pathological prospect, the study of the adhesion molecules and binding capability of the proteins belonging to PE_PGRS families require research concern. The initial and the most critical step of M. tuberculosis H37Rv pathogenesis are adherence of this bacterium to the host cell surface. So, as per our significant research contribution to identification and characterization of a novel PE_PGRS61 family protein FnBP exhibit binding with Fn receptor molecule. Moreover, the computational analyses predicted a specific number of domain/-adhesion site in addition to B and T-cell epitope in the primary protein sequence of this pathogen’s genome. This identification can helps to target the potential adhesion protein i.e. FnBP for development of novel therapeutic approach to improve our understanding of M. tuberculosis H37Rv pathogenesis.