title: Towards a DNA vaccine against tuberculosis.
abstract: Expression of the gene for a single mycobacterial antigen (Mycobacterium leprae hsp65) in adult Balb/c mice resulted in substantial cell-mediated protection against challenge with M. tuberculosis. CD4 and CD8 T cells cloned from spleens of such immunized mice passively transferred protection to non-immunized mice, and CD8 cells selectively lysed macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis. Three modes of expressing the gene have been tested: (1) expression from a retroviral vector (pZIPNeoSV) in implanted J774 tumour cells, (2) expression from the same vector via bone marrow cells transfected in vitro and used to reconstitute irradiated mice, and (3) in a preliminary experiment, from CMV immediate-early and hydroxymethylglutaryl Co-A reductase promoters injected as plasmid DNA into muscle.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lowrie
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tascon
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Colston
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial