Rational deletion of genes in Mycobacterium bovis BCG.
BCG is currently the only licensed vaccine for tuberculosis (TB). While concerns exist that BCG may not provide long-lasting immune responses in vaccinated individuals, it remains one of the safest vaccines available for children. Our research on BCG-derived recombinant vaccines suggests that BCG could be made more effective against TB by strategically deleting genes associated with immune evasion. Additionally, we expect that removing these genes will decrease the virulence of BCG, making the vaccine beneficial for children infected with HIV. To this end, we have created single, double, and triple gene deletions in BCG that encode secretory effector proteins. These modified strains will be evaluated for their effectiveness as a vaccine against TB.