Identification of HLA class II-restricted determinants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-derived proteins by using HLA-transgenic, class II-deficient mice.

The peptide was derived from the sequence of the M. tuberculosis heat shock protein (hsp) 65. Lymph node cells taken from mice immunized with recombinant hsp65 were tested for their ability to proliferate in response to BCG, MTB, hsp65 protein and the hsp65 peptide p1-20. Peptide 1-20-specific proliferation was observed. MAbs directed against CD4 and DR molecules inhibited T cell proliferation. Immunizations were repeated using double transgenic mice (DR3/DQ8) and showed that there is no competition at the level of T cell epitope formation.