Enolase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a surface exposed plasminogen binding protein

•Mtb enolase is surface exposed and binds human plasminogen with high affinity.•Anti-Mtb enolase antibodies can be detected in sera of TB patients.•C-terminal lysine substitution in rEno decreased its binding to human plasminogen.•Enolase bound plasminogen undergoes conversion into plasmin.•Plasminogen binding to Mtb surface was reduced in presence of anti-rEno antibodies.•Immunization with rEno led to a significant decrease in lung Mtb CFU counts.