IDENTIFICATION AND NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF BRUCELLA-MELITENSIS L7 L12 RIBOSOMAL-PROTEIN/

DNA sequencing of the gene encoding a Brucella melitensis 12-kDa prote in revealed that this protein was the ribosomal protein L7/L12. The B. melitensis L7/L12 DNA sequence was identical to that of the correspon ding B. abortus gene, showing the near identity of these two organisms . When comparing the sequence of this protein to that of other organis ms some domains were highly conserved, especially the C-terminus, whic h contrasted with the lack of conservation of the sequences at the N-t erminus. The finding that the ribosomal protein L7/L12 of Brucella is an immunodominant antigen provides a new rationale to explain the acti vity of ribosomal vaccines.