Evaluation of a recombinant BCG expressing antigen Ag85B and PPE protein Rv3425 from DNA segment RD11 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in C57BL/6 mice

Med Microbiol Immunol. 2009 Feb;198(1):5-11. doi: 10.1007/s00430-008-0098-x. Epub 2008 May 20.

Abstract

Antigen 85B (Ag85B) is an important immunodominant antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and is a very promising vaccine candidate molecule. Rv3425 is a member of the subgroup 3 of the PPE family, which does not exist in all BCG strains. In this study we constructed a new rBCG which included this united gene (Ag85B-Rv3425). The level of antigen-stimulated T cells expressing IFN-gamma was significantly higher in the C57BL/6 mice vaccinated with rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 than with BCG. In addition, the sera from mice immunized with rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 revealed an increase in the specific immunoglobulin G titers than that from mice immunized with BCG. Antigen specific IgG subclass analysis showed that rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 tended to facilitate IgG2a production, suggesting enhancement of predominant Th1 response which in turn may facilitate increased production of protective IFN-gamma. These results suggested that this rBCG::Ag85B-Rv3425 could be a strong vaccine candidate for further study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mycobacterium bovis / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / genetics
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines
  • antigen 85, Mycobacterium bovis
  • Interferon-gamma