Safety and immunogenicity of cold-adapted recombinant influenza vector expressing ESAT-6 and Ag85A antigens of M. tuberculosis

Abstract

Recombinant viral vectors represent one of the most promising platforms for creating a new generation of vaccines against tuberculosis. We constructed a vaccine candidate based on a cold-adapted influenza vector with a truncated NS1 protein containing an insert of tuberculosis ESAT-6 and Ag85A antigens. The recombinant virus possessed a cold-adapted and temperature-sensitive phenotype and was attenuated for mice when administered intranasally. Immunofluorescent staining and Western blot showed the expression of ESAT-6 protein in MDCK cells infected by recombinant virus. After intranasal administration to mice, the recombinant virus stimulated a specific antituberculosis CD4 + Th1-type response with the formation of polyfunctional antigen-specific T cells.