1157-1166Cellular
and humoral
immunity induced by
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
has led
to identification
of newer vaccine
candidates,
but despite this,
many questions
concerning
the protection
against tuberculosis
remain
unanswered.
Recent progress
in this field
has centered
on T cell subset
responses and
cytokines
that these cells
secrete. There
has been
a steady
progress
in identification
and characterization
of several
classes of
major mycobacterial
proteins which
includes
secretory/export
proteins,
cell wall associated
proteins,
heat shock
proteins and
cytoplasmic
proteins.
The protein
antigens
are now
believed
to represent
the key protective
immunity inducing
antigens in
the bacillus.
In this review,
various
mycobacterial
protein antigens
of vaccination
potential
are compared
for their efficacy
in light of current
immunological
knowledge.</span