Immunobiological properties of a 30 kDa secretory protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra.

Six different secretory proteins of molecular weights (15, 26, 30, 41, 55 and 70 kDa) were isolated from 8-day-old culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra using different column chromatography techniques. These proteins were further examined for their ability to induce cell mediated (T-cell proliferation assay) and humoral immune response (ELISA) in mice immunized with total culture filtrate proteins. Out of six proteins, three proteins showed good reactivity. However, the activity was at a maximum with 30 kDa antigen. The immune response induced by 30 kDa antigen emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) was investigated and was found to be dose dependent. The T-cell response induced by this protein was skewed towards T-helper (Th1) cells as determined by the pronounced secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). The protective activity of the 30 kDa protein was also evaluated and compared with reference to Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine in the mice challenged with virulent M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The degree of protection afforded by the 30 kDa antigen on the basis of mortality and the significant decrease in c.f.u.'s recovered from different organs (lung, liver, spleen) after 30 days of challenge with LD50 of M. tuberculosis H37Rv was significantly higher in comparison to BCG vaccinated animals. However, the degree of immunity induced by this antigen decreased with time (when challenged 8 and 12 weeks post-immunization) but it was still comparable with BCG. These findings suggest that 30 kDa secretory protein of M. tuberculosis is the key immunoprotective antigen and may be a suitable candidate for the development of an alternative subunit vaccine against tuberculosis.