Cloning, Sequencing and Expression of the Gene for α Antigen from Mycobacterium intracellulare and Use of PCR for the Rapid Identification of Mycobacterium intracellulare

The complete nucleotide sequence of α antigen secreted from Mycobacteriun intracellulare (ATCC13950) was determined. The gene encoded 330 amino acids including 40 amino acids for signal peptide, followed by 290 amino acids for a mature protein with molecular mass 30,645 Da. The cloned gene was expressed in Escherichia coli by using an E. coli expression vector. Based on these results, the feasibility of rapid identification of M. intracellulare by two step polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was demonstrated.