Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur F&#xf6;rderung Der Wissenschaften E. V.

Vakzine Projekt Management Gmbh

University of Cape Town

Seattle Children's Hospital

Stellenbosch University

United Kingdom Research and Innovation

Medizinische Universitat Wien

Stefan H E Kaufmann

Leander Grode

Silke Bandermann

Christiane Desel

J&uuml;rgen Hess

Bärbel Raupach

Ulrich E Schaible

Wolfgang Bauer

Gerhard Walzl

Georg Stingl

Daniel Edward Zak

Thomas Jens Scriba

Ethan Greene Thompson

Ursula Zimny-Arndt

Stephanie Lamer

Baerbel Raupach

Jens Mattow

Juergen Hess

Jayne Suzanne Sutherland

Sara Suliman

Fritz Melchers

Stephen Reece

Christine Desel

Jürgen Hess

Julia Tornack

Peter Jungblut

Hans Mollenkopf

The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro detection of a latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a subject, wherein said method comprises determining at least one nucleotide sequence and/or at least one polypeptide of(Mtb) in a blood cell population of said subject, and wherein the presence of said at least one nucleotide sequence and/or said at least one polypeptide is indicative for said latent tuberculosis infection. In particular, the blood cell population is enriched for hematopoietic stem cells. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of the LTBI in the subject, wherein it is determined if the nucleotide sequence and/or the polypeptide of Mtb is/are present in the blood cell population. Further, the invention relates to kits for carrying out the methods of the invention. The invention also relates to the use of the kits.

Methods for the detection of a latent tuberculosis infection

The invention provides a gene signature for use in determining a likelihood of a latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in a subject transitioning to active TB disease. The gene signature comprises at least SEPT4 and BLK, and optionally also GAS6 and/or CD1C. Expression levels of these genes are detected in a sample from the subject, and the ratios of expression of at least two of the above genes are calculated (e.g. SEPT4:BLK, SEPT4:CD1C, GAS6:BLK and/or GAS6:CD1C). A score is assigned to each ratio, the score being indicative of the likelihood of the latent TB infection transitioning into active TB disease, based on the ratio for the respective gene pair. The subject can be identified as having a latent TB infection that is likely to transition into active TB disease or that is not likely to transition into active TB disease based on the score or on the average of the scores.

Method for predicting progression to active tuberculosis disease

The invention relates to a recombinantcell for use as a vaccine.

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Recombinant mycobacterium as a vaccine

The invention relates to methods and reagents for determining efficacy of vaccine, particularly of a tuberculosis vaccine.

Determination of the efficacy of an anti-mycobacterial vaccination

The present invention relates to novel recombinant vaccines providing protective immunity against tuberculosis. Further, the present invention refers to novel recombinant nucleic acid molecules, vectors containing said nucleic acid molecules, cells transformed with said nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides encoded by said nucleic acid molecules.

Tuberculosis vaccine with improved efficacy

The present invention relates to compositions useful in immunization against pathogenic organisms of the genusand for diagnostic purposes. In particular, the present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one protein which is differentially expressed in a virulent strain as compared to an avirulent strain of. Furthermore, the invention relates to compositions comprising fusion proteins, antigenic fragments, nucleic acid molecules encoding the aforementioned proteinaceous compounds and/or antibodies thereto. Additionally, the invention relates to pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions comprising or employing compounds of the invention. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of the compounds of the invention for the treatment ofinduced diseases and/or for the preparation of a vaccine for vaccination againstinduced diseases.

Identification of specific differentially expressed antigens

Tuberculosis vaccine

Growing community of inventors

Berlin, Germany

Stefan H E Kaufmann