IMMUNOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAEPROTEIN ANTIGENS - AN OVERVIEW

A major focus of leprosy research in the last 10 years has been the id entification and characterization of antigens of Mycobacterium leprae that interact with antibodies and T cells of the host's immune respons e. Through the combined efforts of many different laboratories, a subs tantial number of protein antigens have been identified and characteri zed. In this MicroReview we present an updated list of M. leprae prote in antigene, and, with emphasis on recent developments, summarize what is known regarding their functional and immunological features.