Protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding antigen 85A from Mycobacterium bovis BCG against Buruli ulcer.

ABSTRACT: Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is characterized by deep and necrotizing skin lesions, mostly on the arms and legs. Together with tuberculosis and leprosy, this mycobacterial disease has become a major health problem in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in central and western Africa. No specific vaccine is available for Buruli ulcer. There is, however, evidence in the literature that suggests a cross-reactive protective role of the tuberculosis vaccine M. bovis BCG. To identify potential mechanisms for this cross-protection, we identified and characterized the M. ulcerans homologue of the important protective mycobacterial antigen 85 (Ag85A) from BCG. The homologue is well conserved in M. ulcerans, showing 84.1% amino acid sequence identity and 91% conserved re

SUBMITTER: Tanghe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC98650 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature