A Novel Monoclonal Antibody For Use As A TB Specific Diagnostic Tool For Detecting Humans Infected With TB And Other Related Pathogens And For Use In Research On The Imunopathogenesis Of M. Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacteria that causes one of the most deadly and debilitating diseases of humans today. The CBER investigators developed Hybridoma 7C4.1F7 which produces a IgG2 a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the polyglycine repeat sequence, PGRS, a domain of PE_PGRS proteins from Mycobacterium. The monoclonal antibody elicited by the 7C4.1F7 hybridoma specifically identifies the PE_PGRS proteins from this bacteria that are markers for infection with TB and related pathogneic mycobacteria. Furthermore, this MAb has potential as a powerful research tool in investigating the role of PE_PGRS proteins in the immunopathogenesis of M. tuberculosis. PE_PGRS proteins belong to the PE and PE_PGRS multigene family of Mycobacterium which contains over 65 open reading frames (ORF's) with an N-terminal Proline-Glutamine amino acid motif (PE) and a C-terminal Glycine-Alanine Rich domain. PE_PGRS proteins are found on the surface of Mycobacteria, are expressed during infection, are involved as virulence factors, and are also involved in antigen diversity.