title: Construction of an expression plasmid (vector) encoding Brucella melitensis outer membrane protein, a candidate for DNA vaccine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA vaccination with plasmid encoding bacterial, viral, and parasitic immunogens has been shown to be an attractive method to induce efficient immune responses. Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular pathogens for which new and efficient vaccines are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the use of a DNA immunization strategy for protection against brucellosis, a plasmid containing the DNA encoding the Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis) 31 kDa outer membrane protein, as a potent immunogenic target, was constructed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The constructed plasmid, pcDNA3.1+omp31, was injected intramuscularly into mice and the expression of omp31 RNA was assessed by RT-PCR. The integrity of the pcDNA3.1+omp31 construct was confirmed with restriction analysis and sequencing. Omp31 mRNA expression was verified by RT-PCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the pcDNA3.1+omp31 eukaryotic expression vector expresses omp31 mRNA and could be useful as a vaccine candidate.
authors.affiliation: Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elnaz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Falsafi
keywords: Brucella melitensis; DNA Vaccine; omp31; pcDNA3.1