Abstract: The invention relates to modified Mycobacterium cells, and their uses as vaccines, and, particularly, modified Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines. The invention extends to the use of the modified vaccines for vaccination applications in a wide range of animals, including cattle and humans. The invention extends to novel antigens, kits and compositions comprising these novel antigens and to their use in diagnosis. The invention also extends to apparatus comprising the modified vaccine and the antigens, and compositions comprising the antigens.

Abstract: There is provided a skin test diagnostic reagent comprising: at least one 40mer polypeptide consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 4; at least one 40mer polypeptide consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 7 or 8; and at least one 40mer polypeptide consisting of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 10, 11 or 12, characterised in that the reagent elicits a positive result when administered in a skin test to an animal infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Abstract: There is provided a device (1) for carrying out an assay to detect a target nucleic acid in a sample, the device (1) comprising a body in which is formed: •a) a sample entry well location comprising a sample entry well (22) or means for engaging with a sample entry well (22), the sample entry well (22) having a first volume; •b) an amplification well location comprising an amplification well (56) or means for engaging with an amplification well (56), the well (56) having a second volume less than or the same as the first volume and in which a nucleic acid amplification reaction of the target nucleic acid may be effected; •c) a first channel (60) linking the sample entry well (22) with the amplification well (56); •d) a diluent well location comprising a diluent well (35) or means for engaging with a diluent well (35), the well (35) being sealed, having a third volume greater than the second volume and being openable to an unsealed configuration; •e) a second channel (65) linking the diluent well (35), when in

Abstract: There is provided a skin test diagnostic reagent comprising at least one CFP-10 epitope polypeptide, at least one ESAT-6 epitope polypeptide and at least one Rv3615c epitope polypeptide, the reagent eliciting a positive result when administered in a skin test to an animal infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reagent is useful in that it can be used in a method to determine whether an animal is infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis.