Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tb10.3

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tb10.3 is a small, conserved protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, encoded by a gene within the RD1 locus-a region linked to bacterial virulence. It is often associated with ESAT-6 and CFP-10, though its exact functional role is less well-defined than these two proteins. Studies suggest Tb10.3 may be involved in bacterial secretion systems or host cell interaction, potentially aiding in bacterial invasion or intracellular survival. It exhibits immunogenicity, particularly stimulating cell-mediated immunity, such as the activation of T cells that recognize infected cells. This property makes Tb10.3 a potential candidate for tuberculosis vaccines, as it may enhance the host's ability to target virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. It also has potential as a diagnostic marker, though its use is less widespread than ESAT-6 or CFP-10, with ongoing research to evaluate its clinical utility.