Protection of mice with a tuberculosis subunit vaccine based on a fusion protein of antigen 85B and ESAT-6

In this study, we investigated the potential of a tuberculosis subunit vacc ine based an fusion proteins of the immunodominant antigens ESAT-6 and anti gen 85B. When the fusion proteins were administered to mice in the adjuvant combination dimethyl dioctadecylammonium bromide-monophosphoryl lipid A, a strong dose-dependent immune response was induced to both single component s as well as to the fusion proteins. The immune response Induced was accomp anied by high levels of protective immunity and reached the level of;Mycoba cterium bovis BCG-induced protection over a broad dose range. The vaccine i nduced efficient immunological memory, which remained stable 30 weeks postv accination.