Developing a DNA vaccine to protect against brucellosis

Abstract

Brucella are Gram-negative intracellular pathogenic bacteria, which represent a threat to human and animal health. Live vaccine strains are available to protect some animal species but no vaccines exist for human use. A DNA vaccine could potentially provide long lasting cell-mediated protection against human brucellosis while minimizing the virulence risks associated with live vaccines. Five DNA vaccine candidates, each containing a different stress response gene from B. melitensis, have been constructed to test the theory that stress response genes delivered as a DNA vaccine could provide protection against Brucella infection. A reporter vaccine expressing green fluorescent protein has also been constructed to facilitate vaccine trafficking studies. It is not yet clear whether these vaccines can provide protection against brucellosis.