Vaccine potential of influenza vectors expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT-6 protein.
We generated several attenuated recombinant influenza A vectors expressing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6) protein. The ESAT-6 protein was recently identified as one of the most promising protective antigens for cell-mediated immunity. The obtained vectors appeared to be capable of inducing ESAT-6 specific Th1 immune response in mice after intranasal immunization. We found that double immunization with two influenza vectors of different subtypes provided a significant level of protection in mice, when applied as prophylactic vaccine, as well as substantial therapeutic effect in mice with pre-established tuberculosis infection. Moreover, we found a strong synergistic effect when vaccination with Flu/ESAT-6 vectors was combined with isoniazid treatment, resulting in a dramatic reduction of bacterial load in the lungs of infected mice.
Stukova
M A
MA
Influenza Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg.
Sereinig
S
S
Zabolotnyh
N V
NV
Ferko
B
B
Kittel
C
C
Romanova
J
J
Vinogradova
T I
TI
Katinger
H
H
Kiselev
O I
OI
Egorov
A
A