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Abstract
Expression of the gene for a single mycobacterial antigen (Mycobacterium leprae hsp65)
in adult Balb/c mice resulted in substantial cell-mediated protection against challenge
with M. tuberculosis. CD4 and CD8 T cells cloned from spleens of such immunized mice
passively transferred protection to non-immunized mice, and CD8 cells selectively
lysed macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis. Three modes of expressing the gene
have been tested: (1) expression from a retroviral vector (pZIPNeoSV) in implanted
J774 tumour cells, (2) expression from the same vector via bone marrow cells transfected
in vitro and used to reconstitute irradiated mice, and (3) in a preliminary experiment,
from CMV immediate-early and hydroxymethylglutaryl Co-A reductase promoters injected
as plasmid DNA into muscle.