Oral Immunogenicity of Plant-MadeMycobacterium tuberculosisESAT6 and CFP10

Abstract

Two lines of transgenic carrot plants producingMycobacterium tuberculosisproteins (ESAT6 and CFP10) have been constructed. The target proteins are present in carrot storage roots at a level not less than 0.056% of the total storage protein (TSP) for ESAT6 and 0.002% of TSP for CFP10. As has been shown, oral immunization of mice induces both the cell-mediated and humoral immunities. These data suggest that the proteins in question are appropriate as a candidate edible vaccine against tuberculosis.