SECRETION OF MPB64 ANTIGEN BY A RECOMBINANT CLONE OF MYCOBACTERIUM-SMEGMATIS - CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS

MPB64, a specific antigen to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (TB co mplex), was produced and secreted by a clone of M. smegmatis-MPB64 whe re the structural gene of MPB64 was inserted using a new mycobacteria, E. coli shuttle plasmid pNIS vector. Antibodies against the recombina nt MPB64 (rMPB64) were used for the reverse particle latex agglutinati on (RPLA) test to detect the MPB64 antigen rapidly. RPLA tests were ap plied to the stock cultures and the clinical isolates of mycobacteria to identify TB complex. RPLA with anti-MPB64 antibody-coated latex bea ds completely distinguished TB complex from other mycobacteria. Thus, it is suggested that RPLA with anti-MPB64 antibody would be a new, eas y and inexpensive method for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis.