Monoclonal Antibodies against Apple 1-Aminocyclopropane-l-Carboxylate Synthase

1-Aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC) synthase from applefruits was purified over 5,000-fold by conventional column chromatography.By immunizing mice with this partially purified enzyme preparation,8 hybridoma lines producing monoclonal antibodies against appleACC synthase were isolated. While all 8 clones immunoprecipitatednative ACC synthase, only two clones recognized the putative(48 kDa) ACC synthase on Western blots. When a partially purifiedACC synthase preparation was incubated with S-adenosyl-L-[carboxyl-¹⁴C]methionine(AdoMet), only one radioactive protein of 48 kDa was detectedon sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis.This radioactive protein was specifically immunoprecipitatedby the monoclonal antibodies, indicating that apple ACC synthaseis specifically radiolabeled by its substrate AdoMet, as istomato ACC synthase. Thus, the monoclonal antibodies recognizedboth native and AdoMet-inactivated forms of ACC synthase. Whilethese antibodies failed to im-munoprecipitate ACC synthase isolatedfrom ripe tomato fruits, ripe avocado fruits or auxin-treatedmungbean hypocotyls, they were effective in immunoprecipitatingthe enzyme isolated from ripe pear fruits. (Received August 11, 1990; Accepted October 17, 1990)     

Monoclonal antibodies against human cytochrome P-450 recognizing different pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile-inducible rat cytochromes P-450.

Six murine monoclonal antibodies against human hepatic cytochrome P-450 have been raised, using human liver microsomes (microsomal fractions) or semi-purified human cytochrome P-450 as immunogen. All six antibodies recognized the same highly purified of human liver cytochrome P-450 of molecular mass 53 kDa and gave rise to a single band at 53 kDa on immunoblots of human liver microsomes from 11 individuals. The antibodies also recognized proteins at 52 kDa and 54 kDa on immunoblots of control and induced male-rat liver microsomes, showing four different banding patterns. Antibodies HL4 and HP16 recognized a 52 kDa protein that was only weakly expressed in untreated rats and which was strongly induced by pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) but not by phenobarbitone (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), isosafrole (ISF), Aroclor 1254 (ARO), clofibrate or imidazole. HP10 and HL5 recognized a constitutive 52 kDa protein that was weakly induced by PCN but not by the other agents and was suppressed by 3MC and ARO. HP3 recognized a 54 kDa protein that was undetectable in control rats but was strongly induced by PB, PCN, ISF and ARO. HL3 appeared to recognize a combination of the proteins recognized by the other antibodies plus a 54 kDa protein that was weakly expressed in control rats. The constitutive proteins recognized were male-specific.     

A non-destructive method based on the polymerase chain reaction for detection of hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) of penaeid shrimp

Current methods to detect hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) infection of penaeid shrimp depend on invasive techniques that require dissecting the organs infected by this virus. However, sacrificing valuable stocks in order to determine their HPV status can be a drawback in the case of breeding programs. A method was developed for HPV detection by applying a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to fecal samples collected from live HPV-infected shrimp Penaeus chinensis. A pair of PCR primers, 1120F/1120R, which amplify a 592 base pair (bp) region from the virus genome, was designed from previously known HPV sequence information (HPV clone HPV8). PCR amplification with these primers generated a product of the expected size directly from the crude feces of HPV-infected shrimp but not from the feces of specific pathogen-free (SPF) shrimp. The HPV origin of the amplified product was validated by means of an in situ hybridization assay where the product of the amplification, labeled with digoxigenin (DIG)-11-dUTP, showed an intense reaction within hepatopancreatic cells displaying characteristic HPV lesions on HPV-infected shrimp. No reaction to this probe was observed when reacted in situ with sections of the hepatopancreas of SPF specimens or to sections of shrimp infected by the infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), another parvovirus of penaeid shrimp. These primers were tested for specificity against homologous and nonhomologous viruses and no product was amplified. A fragment of the expected size was obtained only when purified HPV or purified HPV8 plasmid was used as template DNA. Under optimized conditions, these primers detected as little as 1 fg of purified HPV8 plasmid DNA, equivalent to approximately 300 HPV particles. Analysis of fecal samples by PCR may prove useful for non-lethal screening of valuable shrimp of unknown HPV status. This same strategy also might be used for detection of other enteric viruses that infect penaeid shrimp.     

Detection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) of shrimp by means of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to an envelope protein (28 kDa)

The vp28 gene encoding an envelope protein (28 kDa) of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was amplified from WSSV-infected tiger shrimp that originated from Malaysia. Recombinant VP28 protein (r-28) was expressed in Escherichia coli and used as an antigen for preparation of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Three murine MAbs (6F6, 6H4 and 9C10) that were screened by r-28 antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were also able to recognize viral VP28 protein as well as r-28 on Western blot. Three non-overlapping epitopes of VP28 protein were determined using the MAbs in competitive ELISA; thus, an antigen-capture ELISA (Ac-ELISA) was developed by virtue of these MAbs. Ac-ELISA can differentiate WSSV-infected shrimp from uninfected shrimp and was further confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. Approximately 400 pg of purified WSSV sample and 20 pg of r-28 could be detected by Ac-ELISA, which is comparable in sensitivity to PCR assay but more sensitive than Western blot in the detection of purified virus. Hemolymph and tissue homogenate samples collected from a shrimp farm in Malaysia during December 2000 and July 2001 were also detected by Ac-ELISA and PCR with corroborating results.     

Immunoaffinity purification and partial amino acid sequence analysis of catechol-O-methyltransferase from pig liver

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the soluble form (S-COMT) of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) were produced using a purified preparation of the enzyme from pig liver as antigen. The selected monoclonal antibodies recognized the enzyme with different capacities. One of them (Co60-1B/7) showed a significant cross reaction with S-COMT from rat and human liver. A protein band of 23 kDa was recognized by the mAbs on Western blots of the soluble fraction of pig liver. The mAbs were also able to recognize the membrane-bound form of the enzyme, which was found to be mainly localized in the microsomal fraction of pig and rat liver as well as of the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. The protein bands detected in microsomes had a molecular mass of 26 kDa in pig and rat liver and displayed a slightly higher molecular mass (29 kDa) in the Hep G2 cell line. A single step method for the immunoaffinity purification of pig liver S-COMT was developed by using a Sepharose 4B column to which the mAb Co54-5F/8 was covalently coupled. Acid elution conditions were optimized to obtain the enzyme in active form with a good yield. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified preparation revealed a single protein band with a molecular mass of 23 kDa with 154-fold enrichment in enzyme activity over the starting material. Since the N-terminus was blocked, purified enzyme preparations were cleaved with trypsin. Two fragments of 22 and 33 amino acids in length could be sequenced by Edman degradation.     

cDNA and derived amino acid sequence of the hypusine containing protein from Dictyostelium discoideum

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-4D is the only protein known to contain the unusual amino acid hypusine, a posttranslationally modified lysine. For the production of monoclonal antibodies the hypusine-containing protein (HP) was isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum. Using these monoclonal antibodies, a full-length cDNA clone was isolated from a lambda gt11 library. The D. discoideum HP consists of 169 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 18.3 kDa. It is encoded by a single gene. Tryptic and cyanogen bromide peptides were prepared from the purified protein and sequenced. The hypusine residue is located at amino acid position 65 of the HP. The corresponding mRNA of approx. 0.6 kb is present throughout the life cycle of D. discoideum.     

Specific monoclonal antibodies raised against Taura syndrome virus (TSV) capsid protein VP3 detect TSV in single and dual infections with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)

The gene sequence encoding VP3 capsid protein of Taura syndrome virus (TSV) was cloned into pGEX-6P-1 expression vector and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21. After induction, recombinant GST-VP3 (rVP3) fusion protein was obtained and further purified by electro-elution before use in immunizing Swiss mice for production of monoclonal antibodies (MAb). One MAb specific to glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and 6 MAb specific to VP3 were selected using dot blotting and Western blotting. MAb specific to VP3 could be used to detect natural TSV infections in farmed whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei by dot blotting and Western blotting, without cross reaction to shrimp tissues or other shrimp viruses, such as white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), yellow head virus (YHV), monodon baculovirus (MBV) and hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV). These MAb were also used together with those specific for WSSV to successfully detect TSV and WSSV in dual infections in farmed P. vannamei.     

Identification of alpha 2- and alpha 3-subunits of the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex purified from the brains of young rats

Polyclonal antibodies were raised to synthetic amino acid sequences of the bovine GABAA receptor alpha 2- and alpha 3-subunits and purified by affinity chromatography on a column coupled with the respective peptide. Anti-peptide alpha 2(416-424) and anti-peptide alpha 3(459-467) antibodies immunoprecipitated GABAA receptors and recognized a protein of 53 kDa (P53) and 59 kDa (P59), respectively, in Western blots of GABAA receptors purified from the brains of 5-10 day old rats. P53 as well as P59 are specifically photolabeled by [3H]flunitrazepam and are recognized by the alpha-subunit specific monoclonal antibody bd 28.     

Monoclonal antibodies specific to yellow-head virus (YHV) of Penaeus monodon

Monoclonal antibodies specific to 22, 67 and 135 kDa proteins of yellow-head virus (YHV) were produced from a mouse immunized with partially purified YHV isolated from the haemolymph of experimentally YHV-infected Penaeus monodon. Four groups of monoclonal antibodies were identified. One group of antibodies bound only to native protein of YHV while the others were specific to 135, 67 and 22 kDa proteins in both native and denatured forms. All antibodies could be used to detect YHV infection by means of dot blot and immunohistochemistry. However, antibodies specific to the 22 kDa protein gave the best immunohistochemistry results in terms of intensity and sharpness of staining.     

Characterization and PCR detection of hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) from Penaeus monodon in Thailand

Hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) causes disease in several species of penaeid shrimp. Heavy infections may result in poor growth and reduced production for shrimp farmers. From one southern Thai shrimp pond with a high prevalence of HPV infection, 790 shrimp were sampled randomly and the hepatopancreas (HP) removed. Most HP were preserved in liquid nitrogen. However, every 10th HP (79 total) was divided into 2 parts appropriately fixed for examination by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy. Based on light microscopy, the prevalence of HPV infection in the pond was approximately 30% and its presence was confirmed by TEM of parallel samples. The virus was subsequently purified from hepatopancreatic homogenates of the samples preserved in liquid nitrogen. Negative staining of the purified viral preparation revealed unenveloped, icosahedral viral particles 22 to 24 nm in diameter. Agarose gel electrophoresis of nucleic acid extracts revealed the presence of 2 fragments, one very intense (5.8 kb) and the other weak (4.2 kb). The larger fragment was degraded by DNase I and S1 nuclease, indicating single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) characteristic of the viral family Parvoviridae. The smaller fragment was degraded by DNase I but not by S1 nuclease, indicating that it comprised double-stranded DNA. A genomic DNA library of the 5.8 kb ssDNA was constructed in pUC18 and a clone containing a 659 bp fragment specific and sensitive for HPV was selected for sequencing. Based on this sequence, an HPV-specific primer set was designed to yield a 156 bp amplicon by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The expected 156 bp amplicon was obtained only in the presence of HPV DNA template (at as little as 1 fg purified DNA) and not with nucleic acid templates extracted from healthy shrimp tissue or other shrimp pathogens. It is hoped that this PCR assay will be useful to shrimp aquaculturists for early detection and screening of shrimp larvae, parental broodstock or other possible carriers of HPV in the shrimp cultivation system.     

Selective enhanced phosphorylation of shrimp beta-tubulin by PKC-delta with PEP(taxol), a synthetic peptide encoding the taxol binding region

Beta-tubulin cDNA from the shrimp Penaeus japonicus was isolated by homology cloning. Expression of cDNA in Escherichia coli yielded a 55 kDa polypeptide, positive for monoclonal antibodies against mammalian beta-tubulin. Autoradiography demonstrated the bacterially expressed hepatopancreas beta-tubulin of P. japonicus is specifically phosphorylated by the delta isoenzyme of protein kinase C (PKC-delta) purified from the plasma membrane of the shrimp heart, in the presence of the receptor for activated PKC (RACK), but not in its absence. Purified shrimp heart PKC-delta is able to phosphorylate bacterially expressed shrimp beta-tubulin without the presence of Ca(++), but requires Mg(++). The kinase activity of purified PKC-delta on bacterially expressed beta-tubulin was enhanced by incubation with PEP(taxol), a synthetic peptide encoding the taxol-binding region of beta-tubulin. In other words, PEP(taxol) modulates the kinase activity of PKC-delta through RACK.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in Neurospora crassa. Purification by immunoaffinity chromatography and characterization

Monoclonal antibodies to Neurospora crassa cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE I) were selected by their capacity to inhibit the enzyme activity. The monoclonal immunoglobulin, coupled to Sepharose 4B, was used for the affinity purification of PDE I activity. After SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the affinity purified PDE I fractions showed a single polypeptide band of about 41 kDa. This band reacted in Western blots with the above mentioned monoclonal immunoglobulin.     

Polyclonal antibodies specific for VP1 and VP3 capsid proteins of Taura syndrome virus (TSV) produced via gene cloning and expression

Capsid protein genes VP1 and VP3 of Taura syndrome virus (TSV) were cloned into pGEX-6P-1 expression vector and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21. After induction, recombinant VP1 (rVP1) and recombinant VP3 (rVP3) were produced, purified by SDS-PAGE and used for immunization of Swiss mice for antisera production. Anti-rVP1 and anti-rVP3 antisera showed specific immunoreactivities to rVP1 and rVP3 proteins, respectively, by Western blot assay and also yielded good results for detection of TSV in various shrimp tissues by immunohistochemistry. This is the first step towards our target of preparing monoclonal antibodies specific to rVP1 and rVP3 for use in simple immuno-diagnostic test kits for TSV detection and identification.     

Purification and partial characterization of immobilization antigens from Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a parasitic ciliate of freshwater fishes, was found to have surface antigens (Ag) which elicited immobilizing antibodies (Ab) when injected into rabbits. An effort was made to purify and characterize these Ag (referred to as immobilization Ag) because of their potential role in protective immunity in fishes. Mice immunized with theront cilia were used for production of immobilizing monoclonal antibodies (MAb). Hybridomas were screened by indirect immunofluorescent light microscopy and immobilization of live parasites. Six hybridomas producing immobilizing MAb were cloned. Immobilizing MAb were used to affinity purify Ag solubilized with Triton X-114 and Na deoxycholate. Two membrane protein Ag of approximately 48 and 60 kDa were identified. Immobilizing MAb failed to react with these Ag on Western blots and, conversely, MAb that reacted with the Ag on Western blots did not immobilize live organisms. These results suggest that immobilization required native conformational epitopes which were altered by Western blotting procedures. Individual MAb reactive on Western blots recognized both the 48- and 60-kDa proteins indicating the presence of common epitopes. Affinity purified Ag elicited immobilizing antisera when injected into rabbits, mice, and channel catfish.     

Human placental ecto-5'-nucleotidase: isoforms and chemical crosslinking products of the membrane-bound and isolated enzyme

Human placental ecto-5'-nucleotidase is specifically detected on Western blots using poly- or monoclonal antibodies. In two-dimensional electrophoresis 5'-nucleotidase, purified as well as membrane bound, is resolved in up to 13 isoforms distinguished by a different content of neuraminic acid. These forms span a range of molecular masses of about 67-71 kDa and of isoelectric points of 5.8-7.0. Chemical cross-linking of the purified enzyme with either homoor heterobifunctional reagents yields a dimer of about 140 kDa exclusively. On the other hand treatment of plasma membranes with the same reagents results in a crosslinking product of 5'-nucleotidase of about 97 kDa. The partner of the enzyme subunit in this crosslink, a protein of about 30 kDa, is unknown. Using specific antibodies the cytoskeletal components actin and tropomyosin were excluded as possible candidates.     

Immunohistochemical studies of human ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3)

The human ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3) was expressed in E. coli using the pET-15b vector and the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced and characterized. A total of five hybridoma cell lines were established and the antibodies recognized a single band of molecular weight of 33 kDa on immunoblot with purified rpS3. When the purified rpS3 was incubated with the mAbs, the UV endonuclease activity of rpS3 was inhibited up to a maximum of 49%. The binding affinity of mAbs to rpS3 determined by using a biosensor technology showed that they have similar binding affinities. Using the anti-rpS3 antibodies as probes, we investigated the cross-reactivities of various other mammalian brain tissues and cell lines, including human. The immunoreactive bands on Western blots appeared to be the same molecular mass of 33 kDa in all animal species tested. They also appear to be extensively cross-reactive among different organs in rat. These results demonstrated that only one type of immunologically similar rpS3 protein is present in all of the mammalian brain tissues including human. Furthermore, these antibodies were successfully applied in immunohistochemistry in order to detect rpS3 in the gerbil brain tissues. Among the various regions in the brain tissues, the rpS3 positive neurons were predominantly observed in the ependymal cells, hippocampus and stantia nigra pars compacta. The different distributions of rpS3 in brain tissues reply that rpS3 protein may play an important second function in the neuronal cells.     

The gamma-aminobutyric-acid/benzodiazepine-receptor protein from rat brain. Large-scale purification and preparation of antibodies

The gamma-aminobutyric-acid-receptor protein complex from rat brain was solubilized in high yield, purified in milligram amounts by benzodiazepine affinity chromatography and used to generate a high-titer rabbit antiserum. High concentrations of Triton X-100 detergent plus KCl solubilized about 90% of the membrane-bound gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor (assayed by [3H]muscimol binding) and benzodiazepine receptor (assayed by [3H]flunitrazepam binding) activities. Both activities were retained on an affinity column using an immobilized benzodiazepine ligand, and most of the column-absorbed receptor could be eluted by a solution of free benzodiazepine plus 4 M urea. The purified protein bound [3H]muscimol and [3H]flunitrazepam with receptor-like pharmacological specificity and specific activities of about 1700 pmol and 700 pmol bound/mg protein, respectively, for the two ligands. This corresponds to a purification of over 600-fold and a near theoretical purity, with a yield of milligram quantities from 100 g brain. Four peptide bands were observed on gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, with molecular mass values of 31, 47, 52 and 57 kDa. The latter two were most significantly stained, and identified as receptor subunits by photolabeling with [3H]flunitrazepam (52 kDa) and [3H]muscimol (57 kDa), and by reaction on Western blots with monoclonal antibodies to this protein produced by Schoch et al. [(1985) Nature (Lond.) 314, 168-171]. Rabbit antiserum was raised to the purified protein and could, at high dilutions, both coprecipitate soluble gamma-aminobutyric-acid/benzodiazepine-receptor-binding activities and stain the receptor subunits (principally 52-kDa band) on Western blots.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to porcine brain pyridoxal kinase.

Six monoclonal antibodies that recognize porcine brain pyridoxal kinase have been selected and designated as PK67, PK86, PK91, PK144, PK252 and PK275. A total of six monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes of the enzyme were obtained, of which four inhibited the enzyme activity. When total proteins of porcine brain homogenate separated by SDS-PAGE were subjected to monoclonal antibodies, a single reactive protein band of molecular weight 39 kDa which comigrated with purified porcine pyridoxal kinase was detected. Using the anti-pyridoxal kinase antibodies as probes, the cross reactivities of brain pyridoxal kinase from human and other mammalian tissues and from avian sources were also investigated. Among human and all animal tissues tested, immunoreactive bands on Western blots appeared to have the same molecular mass of 39 kDa. These results indicate that mammalian brains contain only one major type of immunologically similar pyridoxal kinase, although some properties of the enzymes reported previously differed from one another.     

Polyclonal Antibodies to the Bacterially Expressed Coat Protein of Faba Bean Necrotic Yellows Virus

Specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies against bacterially expressed coat protein of Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV, genus Nanovirus) were produced using a recombinant DNA approach. The FBNYV capsid protein (CP) gene located on component 5 was cloned in an expression vector pQE‐9 (Qiagen, QIAGEN Inc., Chatswortch, CA91311, USA). Expression of the CP with an N‐terminal hexahistidine tag in Escheri‐ chia coli M15 cells was induced by adding isopropyl‐3‐D ‐1‐thiogalactoside (IPTG) to a final concentration of 2 mM . About 8 mg of bacterially expressed CP (BE‐CP) was purified from 1 litre of bacterial liquid culture using a Ni‐NTA resin column (Qiagen). The expressed CP which migrated as a protein of approximately 23 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was identified by its strong reaction with polyclonal antibodies produced against FBNYV particles and 2‐5H9 FBNYV‐monoclonal in Western blots. Expressed and purified CP (SDS‐PAGE 23 kDa band) was injected into a white rabbit, using seven intramuscular injections at weekly intervals. The antiserum produced was evaluated for FBNYV detection in double antibody sandwich (DAS)‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), triple antibody sandwich (TAS)‐ELISA, tissue blot immunoassay (TBIA), dot blot, Western blot and goat antimouse coating (GAMC)‐ELISA using 13 different FBNYV monoclonal antibodies. The antiserum raised against the BE‐CP gave strong FBNYV‐specific TBIA reactions and very weak background reactions with non‐infected tissue, similar to those produced by monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, BE‐CP polyclonal antibody reacted weakly with FBNYV‐infected tissue and strongly with BE‐CP in DAS‐ELISA, but not with FBNYV‐infected tissue in TAS‐ELISA when 13 detecting monoclonal antibodies were used. In addition, BE‐CP polyclonal antibody reacted strongly with BE‐CP in TAS‐ELISA only when 2‐5H9 detecting monoclonal was used. When monoclonals were used as primary antibody and BE‐CP polyclonal as detecting antibody (GAMC‐ELISA), FBNYV‐infected tissue gave moderate reactions with 2‐5H9 and strong reactions with 3‐2E9 monoclonal, whereas BE‐CP gave equally strong reactions with both monoclonals. These results showed that the BE‐CP polyclonal antibody is useful for the detection of FBNYV in infected tissue by TBIA and dot blot tests.     

Antigens in culture supernatant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: epitopes defined by monoclonal and human antibodies.

Antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis found in the supernatant of heat-treated cultures were characterized in order to explore whether antigens from this source could be used for the development of a serological test. Culture supernatants and sonicates of 12, 25 and 39 d cultures were analysed by SDS-PAGE. In culture supernatant, major protein bands of 65, 24, and 12 kDa were visible after Coomassie brilliant blue staining. Using murine monoclonal antibodies in Western blots, a pattern of protein bands distinct from that of the corresponding M. tuberculosis sonicates was found in all the culture supernatants. Gel permeation chromatography, in the presence of SDS, was used to separate the major protein bands in the culture supernatant. In ELISA, sera from 20 of 26 patients with tuberculosis reacted with fractions containing mainly 24 kDa or 12 kDa proteins, whereas none of the control sera reacted. In Western blots, each patient serum had its own characteristic banding pattern with culture supernatant, but all the sera from tuberculosis patients and control subjects reacted with protein bands of 65, 61, 58, 30 and 24 kDa. The 12 kDa protein was recognized only by sera from patients with tuberculosis in both Western blots and ELISA. This suggests that different kinds of epitopes on proteins of M. tuberculosis are detected by human antibodies in Western blots and ELISA. We assume that epitopes recognized in Western blots by patients with tuberculosis and control subjects are ubiquitous and are also present on normal commensal bacteria. Epitopes recognized by only some patients with tuberculosis in Western blots may be linear and M. tuberculosis specific. Epitopes recognized by tuberculosis patients but by none of the control subjects in ELISA may be conformation related and M. tuberculosis specific. The major protein bands found in supernatants of heat-treated cultures, 24 and 12 kDa, possess epitopes that may be M. tuberculosis specific and are potentially valuable for the development of a serological test.