The immunogenicity of single and combination DNA vaccines against tuberculosis

DNA immunization is a promising new approach for the development of novel t uberculosis vaccines. In this study, the immune responses following the adm inistration of single and combination tuberculosis DNA vaccines were evalua ted. Single DNA vaccines encoding the MPT-63 and MPT-83 tuberculosis antige ns evoked partial protection against an aerogenic challenge with M, tubercu losis Erdman in the mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis. Immunization wit h a multivalent combination DNA vaccine (containing the ESAT-6, MPT-64, MPT -63, and KatG constructs) generated immune responses that indicated an abse nce of antigenic competition since antigen-specific cell-mediated and humor al responses were detected to each component of the mixture. More important ly, the combination vaccine elicited a strong protective response relative to the protection evoked by live BCG vaccine. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.