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Clinical Microbiology: Open Access | ISSN: 2327-5073 | Volume: 7
Microbiology: Education, R&D and Market
7
th
Annual Summit on
September 28-29, 2018 | San Antonio, USA
Construction of a live vaccine strain against Tularemia
F
rancisella tularensis
subsp.
tularensis
(Ftt) is a highly virulent bacterium that causes the disease tularemia. Fewer than 10
bacteria are sufficient to cause a fatal infection when the bacteria are inhaled into the lung, therefore Ftt has been classified
as a category A biothreat agent.
F. novicida
(Fn) is a closely-related species that is avirulent in healthy humans but causes a
fatal disease in mice. We are developing Fn as a live vaccine strain to protect against Ftt infection. We have already shown
that Fn with a mutation in
iglD
, the T6SS gene required for phagosome escape and intramacrophage replication (Fn-
iglD
),
protects vaccinated animals against pulmonary challenge with Ftt using two different animal models, the Fischer 344 rat,
and the cynomolgus macaque. To enhance the efficacy of Fn-
iglD
, we have engineered it to express the LPS O-antigen from
Ftt (OAg
FTT
). The Fn-
iglD
strain expressing OAg
FTT
, KKF768, induces antibodies against OAg
FTT
in vaccinated mice and rats.
Moreover, KKF768 vaccinated Fischer 344 rats are protected against lethal pulmonary challenge with Ftt, demonstrating that
Fn
iglD
/OAg
FTT
is a good candidate for a tularemia vaccine.
Biography
Xhavit Zogaj is working as an Asst Prof of Research in Biology department of the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas, USA. His area of specialization is
Vaccine development against tularemia and Bacterial Biofilms. His areas of specialization are Vaccine development against tularemia, and Bacterial Biofilms.
xhavit.zogaj@utsa.eduXhavit Zogaj
University of Texas at San Antonio, USA
Xhavit Zogaj, Clin Microbiol 2018, Volume: 7
DOI: 10.4172/2327-5073-C3-038