Development of Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis recombinants expressing major Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigenic proteins

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an obligate pathogenic bacterial species in the family Mycobacteriaceae and the causative agent of most tuberculosis (TB) cases. Until today, the only approved TB vaccine is Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), which has been used since 1921. While BCG provides fairly effective protection for infants and young children, its efficacy in adults is variable around the world. This could be due to several parameters including strains of the vaccine and exposure of individuals to different environmental bacterial infections. The situation is complicated by the emergence of multidrug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. This urged the demand to develop new improved vaccines and immunotherapies against TB. Development of nonpathogenic recombinant constructs delivering M. tuberculosis-specific antigenic proteins provides the chance to evaluate candidates to be included in diagnostic tools and preventive vaccines. In our study, we are introducing some of the major M. tuberculosis genes in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis.