A new DNA vaccine expressing HspX-PPE44-EsxV fusion antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis induced strong immune responses

摘要

Infection with tuberculosis (TB) is regarded as a major health issue. Due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance during TB treatment, prevention via vaccination is one of the most effective ways of controlling the infection. DNA vaccines are developed at a greater pace due to their ability in generating a long-lasting immune response, higher safety compared to the live vaccines, and relatively lower cost of production. In the present study, we evaluated a new DNA vaccine encoding the fusion HspX-PPE44-EsxV antigens, separately, and in combination with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) administration, in a prime-boost method in mice.