Mapping of TH1 helper T-cell epitopes on major secreted mycobacterial antigen 85A in mice infected with live Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

TH1 cytokine secretion was examined in response to synthetic peptides of the 85A component of the major secreted, fibronectin-binding antigen 85 complex from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in seven different mouse strains infected with live M. bovis BCG. Twenty-eight overlapping 20-mer peptides covering the complete mature 295-amino-acid (AA) protein were synthesized.