title: Construction of eukaryotic expression vectors encoding CFP-10 and ESAT-6 genes and their potential in lymphocyte proliferation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterium (M.) bovis is the agent of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a range of animal species, including humans. Recent advances in immunology and the molecular biology of Mycobacterium have allowed identification of a large number of antigens with the potential for the development of a new TB vaccine. The ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins of M. bovis are important structural and functional proteins known to be important immunogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, the DNAs encoding these genes were utilized in the construction of pcDNA 3.1+/ESAT-6 and pcDNA3.1+/CFP-10 plasmids. After intramuscular injection of BALB/c mice with these plasmids, ESAT-6 and CFP-10 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR. Mice were inoculated and boosted with the plasmids to evaluate their effects on lymphocyte proliferation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate the plasmids are expressed at the RNA level and can induce lymphocyte proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further study is needed to characterize the effect of these antigens on the immune system and determine whether they are effective vaccine candidates against M. bovis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahmoorespour
authors.affiliation: Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.affiliation: Department of PPD and Tuberculin production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mosavari
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nassiri
keywords: BALB/c mice; CFP-10; DNA vaccine; ESAT-6; Mycobacterium bovis; PPD; Proliferation assay