Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification and characterization of a number of novel M. tuberculosis derived proteins and protein fragments. The invention is directed to the polypeptides and immunologically active fragments thereof, the genes encoding them, immunological compositions such as diagnostic reagents containing the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification and characterization of a number of M. tuberculosis derived novel proteins and protein fragments (SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17-23, 42, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72-86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, and 168-171). The invention is directed to the polypeptides and immunologically active fragments thereof, the genes encoding them, immunological compositions such as vaccines and skin test reagents containing the polypeptides. Another part of the invention is based on the surprising discovery that fusions between ESAT-6 and MPT59 are superior immunogens compared to each of the unfused proteins, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification and characterization of a number of M. tuberculosis derived novel proteins and protein fragments (SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17-23, 42, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72-86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, and 168-171). The invention is directed to the polypeptides and immunologically active fragments thereof, the genes encoding them, immunological compositions such as vaccines and skin test reagents containing the polypeptides. Another part of the invention is based on the surprising discovery that fusions between ESAT-6 and MPT59 are superior immunogens compared to each of the unfused proteins, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification and characterization of a number of novel M. tuberculosis derived proteins and protein fragments. The invention is directed to the polypeptides and immunologically active fragments thereof, the genes encoding them, immunological compositions such as diagnostic reagents containing the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods for combatting diseases characterized by deposition of amyloid. The methods generally rely on immunization against amyloid precursor protien (APP) or beta amyloid (A&bgr;). Immunization is preferably effected by administration of analogues of autologous APP or A&bgr;, said analogues being capable of inducing antibody production against the autologous amyloidogenic polypeptides. Especially preferred as an immunogen is autologous A&bgr; which has been modified by introduction of one single or a few foreign, immunodominant and promiscuous T-cell epitopes. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vaccination against APP or A&bgr; and vaccination using live vaccines as well as methods and means useful for the vaccination. Such methods and means include methods for the preparation of analogues and pharmaceutical formulations, as well as nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polynucleotide carrying an open reading frame coding for an antigenic polypeptide from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, named lhp, which is placed under the control of its own regulation signals which are functional in mycobacteria, specially in mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and also in fast growing mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium smegmatis. The invention is also directed to the polypeptide LHP encoded by lhp and most preferably to suitable antigenic portions of LHP as well as to oligomeric polypeptides containing more than one unit of LHP or an antigenic portion of LHP. The invention concerns also immunogenic and vaccine compositions containing a polypeptide or an oligomeric polypeptide such as defined above, as well as antibodies directed specifically against such polypeptides that are useful as diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: A method for in vivo down-regulation of amyloid protein in an animal, including a human being, the method comprising effecting presentation to the animal's immune system of an immunogenically effective amount of at least one amyloidogenic polypeptide or subsequence thereof which has been formulated so that immunization of the animal with the amyloidgenic polypeptide or subsequence thereof induces production of antibodies against the amyloidogenic polypeptide, and/or at least one analogue of the amyloidogenic polypeptide wherein is introduced at least one modification in the amino acid sequence of the amyloidogenic polypeptide which has as a result the immunization of the animal with the analogue induces production of antibodies against the amyloidogenic polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention discloses fusion proteins of the immunodominant antigens ESAT-6 and Ag85B from Mycobacterium tuberculosis or homologues thereof, and a tuberculosis vaccine based on the fusion proteins, which vaccine induces efficient immunological memory.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polynucleotide carrying an open reading frame coding for an antigenic polypeptide from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, named lhp, which is placed under the control of its own regulation signals which are functional in mycobacteria, specially in mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and also in fast growing mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium smegmatis. The invention is also directed to the polypeptide LHP encoded by lhp and most preferably to suitable antigenic portions of LHP as well as to oligomeric polypeptides containing more than one unit of LHP or an antigenic portion of LHP. The invention concerns also immunogenic and vaccine compositions containing a polypeptide or an oligomeric polypeptide such as defined above, as well as antibodies directed specifically against such polypeptides that are useful as diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification and characterization of a number of M. tuberculosis derived novel proteins and protein fragments (SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17-23, 42, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72-86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, and 168-171). The invention is directed to the polypeptides and immunologically active fragments thereof, the genes encoding them, immunological compositions such as vaccines and skin test reagents containing the polypeptides. Another part of the invention is based on the surprising discovery that fusions between ESAT-6 and MPT59 are superior immunogens compared to each of the unfused proteins, respectively.