CD8+-T-CellResponses of Mycobacterium-Infected Mice to a Newly Identified MajorHistocompatibility Complex Class I-Restricted Epitope Shared byProteins of the ESAT-6Family

Here we describe the identification of a new CD8(+)-T-cell epitope, the GYAGTLQSL nonamer, shared by the TB10.3 and TB10.4 proteins of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT-6 family. Cytotoxic T cells from mycobacterium-infected mice efficiently recognized this epitope. GYAGTLQSL-specific T-cell hybridomas, which were able to recognize Mycobacterium bovis BCG-infected macrophages, were generated and now allow investigation of mycobacterial-antigen processing through the major histocompatibility complex class I pathway.