Abstract: The invention provides isolated, purified, recombinant receptor binding proteins Gp-6, Gp-10 and Gp-31 from mycobacterium phage L5, and methods for producing these recombinant receptor binding proteins. The invention also provides the use of recombinant receptor binding proteins, including Gp-6, Gp-10 and Gp-31, as probes for the identification and diagnosis of mycobacterium infections and conditions caused by mycobacterium. Further provided by the invention are methods of targeting mycobacteria using recombinant receptor binding proteins, including Gp-6, Gp-10 and Gp-31. Other methods provided by the invention include the use of recombinant receptor binding proteins, such as Gp-10, in diagnostic assays for diseases, such as Johne's disease, in animals, including ruminants.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated, purified, recombinant receptor binding proteins Gp-6, Gp-10 and Gp-31 from mycobacterium phage L5, and methods for producing these recombinant receptor binding proteins. The invention also provides the use of recombinant receptor binding proteins, including Gp-6, Gp-10 and Gp-31, as probes for the identification and diagnosis of mycobacterium infections and conditions caused by mycobacterium. Further provided by the invention are methods of targeting mycobacteria using recombinant receptor binding proteins, including Gp-6, Gp-10 and Gp-31. Other methods provided by the invention include the use of recombinant receptor binding proteins, such as Gp-10, in diagnostic assays for diseases, such as Johne's disease, in animals, including ruminants.

Abstract: Active fractions exhibiting anti-tuberculous activity from the plant Byttneria herbecea (family—Sterculiaceae) are described. Methanol extracts of the aerial part of Byttneria herbecea exhibited activity against MtbGS in primary screening of biosynthetic assay. Subsequent fractionation was carried out in organic solvents. Out of all these, two fractions (fraction D and K) are exhibiting inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis glutamine synthetase activity. These fractions D and K are inhibiting 74% and 44% respectively at 7.5 mg/ml concentrations. The determined IC50 value of the fraction K is found to be 4.5 mg/ml from the dose response curve against the purified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Glutamine Synthetase. The IC50 value for M. bovis BCG is 1.56 ?g/ml. It was observed that there was no significant effect on proliferation of HL-60 cell line at 10×MIC levels of the hits. This data indicated that these compounds could be initially considered to be safe.