New approaches to identification of antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The antigenic repertoire presented by mycobacteria is a complex mixture of protein and nonprotein antigens. Responses to these antigens may lead to elaboration of cytokines which are important in the development of protective immunity or, conversely, may be involved in immunopathogenesis. Successful development of subunit vaccines for TB will depend on identification of specific antigens or epitopes which can selectively activate mechanisms involved in protective immunity. Development of these vaccines will require preparation of relatively large volumes of LAM-free antigens for testing in animal models of TB which most closely represent human disease.