Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.

Japan As Represented by Director General of Agency of National Institute

Takeshi Yamada

Kazuhiro Matsuo

Akihiro Yamazaki

Yoshitomo Chujo

Hiromichi Tasaka

Shudo Yamazaki

Mitsuo Honda

Ryuji Yamaguchi

A secretory vector expressed in mycobacteria comprising a promoter, a signal sequence having ligated therewith a DNA nucleotide sequence encoding heterologous polypeptide and replicator region capable of replication in mycobacteria is disclosed. A transformant that has been transformed with the secretory vector, as well as a vaccine comprising the transformant is provided.

Mycobacterial secretory expression vectors and transformants

A vaccine containing Mycobacterium bovis BCG which secretes a fusion protein to be obtained by inserting a foreign antigen peptide into the molecular surface of a secretory protein, a carrier, having a signal peptide. BCG constituting the present invention secretes a fusion protein to be obtained by inserting a foreign antigen peptide into the molecular surface of an .alpha.-antigen derived from mycobacteria. Said fusion protein has significantly increased antigenicity and immunogenicity. Therefore, when it is inoculated into animals, it is efficiently recognized by B cells which recognize said antigen, thereby effectively inducing the production of an antibody to said antigen. When said BCG itself is inoculated into animals, it continuously secretes said fusion protein in the bodies of the animals while continuously propagating therein. Therefore, said BCG is an extremely useful vaccine.

Anti-AIDS secretory recombinant BCG vaccine

Anti-acids secretory recombinant BCG vaccine

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Kazuhiro Matsuo