Protective effect of a tuberculosis subunit vaccine based on a fusion of antigen 85B and ESAT-6 in the aerosol guinea pig model

Abstract

A fusion protein of antigen 85B (Ag85B) and ESAT-6 administered in cationic lipid vesicles conferred a highly significant level of protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the guinea pig aerosol model of infection. The protection was manifested as delayed clinical illness and prolonged survival. Neither Ag85B nor ESAT-6 (independently or as a cocktail) induced significant protection in this model.

Figures

FIG. 1.

(A) Survival curves of guinea pigs that were aerosol-infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv throughout an observation period of 123 days (n = 6 mice) (CAMR, Salisbury, United Kingdom); (B) survival curves of guinea pigs that were aerosol-infected with M. tuberculosis Erdman throughout an observation period of 184 days (n = 9 to 15 mice) (Statens Serum Institute). The figure shows combined data from two experiments. A P of <0.05 was considered significant by the Kaplan-Meier rank sum test. Ag85B-ESAT-6, fusion protein; Ag85B + ESAT-6, antigen cocktail.