T cell epitopes on the 36K and 65K Mycobacterium leprae antigens defined by human T cell clones.

To identify the molecular localization and specificity of Mycobacterium leprae antigenic determinants inducing T cell activation, we studied the reactivity of M. leprae-reactive T cell clones from two tuberculoid leprosy patients towards a battery of different mycobacterial strains and purified mycobacterial antigens. Of the 38 T cell clones tested 8 appeared to be M. leprae specific (specificity A), another 8 were cross-reactive with at least one of the three mycobacterial strains, M. lepraemurium, M. vaccae and M. scrofulaceum (specificity B), 5 were reactive with most but not all strains (specificity C) and the remaining 18 were reactive with all 17 mycobacterial strains tested (specificity D), but not with nonmycobacterial antigens. All T cell clones were tested with the 36K and 65K antigen isolated from M. leprae, and with the M. leprae and M. bovis BCG 65K proteins produced in E. coli by recombinant DNA. Four T cell clones appeared to recognize epitopes on the 36K antigen, nine T cell clones recognized the 65K antigen. These 2 M. leprae antigens, 36K and 65K, thus seem to contain major T cell epitopes. At least 3 different epitopes could be defined on the 36K antigen of which one is M. leprae specific, one of specificity B and one of specificity C. Two distinct epitopes were discerned on the 65K antigen of which one is M. leprae specific and one of specificity D. The M. leprae-specific epitopes on the 36K and 65K antigen may help in the development of a specific serodiagnostic and skin test.