Patent ID: 8003776

Claim:
An isolated M. tuberculosis DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 8, 56, 126 and 130, or a variant thereof having at least 70% nucleotide sequence identity therewith, or a derivative thereof, wherein the peptide encoded by said variant or derivative has a common antigenic cross-reactivity to the peptide encoded by said DNA sequence; wherein said M. tuberculosis DNA sequence is the coding sequence of an M. tuberculosis gene, the expression of which is induced or up-regulated under culture conditions that are nutrient-starving and which maintain mycobacterial latency, said conditions being obtainable by batch fermentation of an M. tuberculosis bacterium for at least 40 days post-inoculation, when compared with culture conditions that are not nutrient-starving and which support exponential growth of said mycobacterium.