2000: Gene Cloning and Expression of Mycobacterium Leprae a2 Antigen

Contribution/research:
Gene Cloning and Expression of Mycobacterium Leprae a2 Antigen

Award:
Jiangsu Provincial Science Achievement Second Award, 2000
Nanjing City Science Achievement Second Award, 2000

Winners:
Yin Y, Wu Q, Hou W

Address:
National Center for STD and Leprosy Control, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 12 Jiangwangmiao Road, Nanjing 210042, P. R. China

Introduction:
The recombinant a2 Antigen of M. leprae was prepared using the molecular biologic tools and the recombinant DNA expression technology. Screening of the M. leprae expression library was performed by the hybridization technique. Nucleotide sequences were determined by dideoxy termination method and the gene coding for a2 Antigen was cloned and characterized. The over expression system of a2 Antigen gene in E.coli was constructed, and the recombinant a2 antigen has been purified by amylose column chromatography. The results of study indicated that similar consideration of high sensitivity and specificity of detection of leprosy using ELISA based on a2 antigen, as well as a significant correlation of IgG antibody to a2 antigen with that to PGL-I, the recombinant a2 antigen may substitute PGL-I and can be useful as a complementary test in the serodiagnosis of leprosy in suspected cases of lepromatous leprosy, the seroepidemiological survey of leprosy infection in community, and monitoring the response of the patients subjected to chemotherapy.