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Secreted proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis play key roles in the assembly of the mycobacterial cell wall, with many being major targets of the host immune response. To date, meaningful characterization of a significant proportion of this important group of proteins is lacking. Among the group of putatively secreted proteins of M. tuberculosis are 7 cutinase-like proteins (CLP), not previously characterized in terms of their immunogenicity or vaccine protective efficacy. Although the CLP vary in the degree of homology with one another, they all share a similar active catalytic triad, closely homologous to that of the cutinase of Fusarium solani. By construction of DNA vaccines of all 7 CLP, and expression and purification of soluble, recombinant CLP, this study addresses the immunological responses to these proteins. Clp1, 2, 3 and 6 were found to elicit significant IFN-γ secretion in DNA immunized mice, with the …