International Journal of Immunology

Special Issue

ESAT6-like Proteins of M. tuberculosis in Virulence, Diagnosis and Vaccine Development

  • Submission Deadline: Jun. 30, 2022
  • Status: Submission Closed
  • Lead Guest Editor: Abu Salim Mustafa
About This Special Issue
The early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT6) is a low molecular weight and immunodominant protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was first purified biochemically from the short-term culture filtrate of M. tuberculosis, and was shown to be a major protein antigen recognized by T cells from infected animals and tuberculosis patients. The analysis of T-cell reactivity of ESAT6 using synthetic peptides showed that the protein had multiple epitopes recognized by T cells. The genes for ESAT6 and another low molecular weight culture filtrate protein of molecular weight 10 kDa (CFP10) are located in the region of difference (RD)1, which is present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis but deleted in all vaccine strains of BCG and most non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Recombinant BCG strains transformed with RD1 DNA and expressing ESAT6 and CFP10 proteins had increased pathogenesis in animals, whereas deletion of RD1 from M. tuberculosis resulted into the loss of pathogenesis, suggesting their role in the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis. Since ESAT6 (EsxA) and CFP10 (EsxB) are specific for M. tuberculosis and immunodominant, they have been recommended in the specific diagnosis of infections caused by M. tuberculosis using interferon-gamma release assays, and tuberculin-type skin tests. Furthermore, immunizations with vaccine preparations containing EsxA and EsxB have shown to provide protection against challenge with M. tuberculosis in animal models of tuberculosis. In humans, the vaccine preparations containing EsxA and EsxB have shown to induce cellular immune responses.
The analysis of M. tuberculosis genome has shown the existence of 21 additional ESAT6-like proteins, which may have roles in virulence, diagnosis or vaccine development. This Special Issue will include studies related to the virulence, diagnosis and vaccine applications of ESAT6-like proteins of M. tuberculosis.

Keywords:

  1. Tuberculosis
  2. ESAT6-like Proteins
  3. Virulence
  4. Diagnosis
  5. Vaccine
  6. Animals
  7. Humans
Lead Guest Editor
  • Abu Salim Mustafa

    Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait