Recombinant BCG strains with enhanced ability to escape the endosome

摘要

Mycobacterium strains that have an enhanced ability to elicit a Histocompatibility-Class I-restricted CD8+ T cell immune response are provided. The Mycobacterium strains are genetically engineered to express a endosomalytic protein that is active at neutral pH (e.g. Perfringolysin O), permitting escape of the Mycobacterium from endosomes into the cytoplasm of the cell. The invention also provides vaccine preparations containing the Mycobacterium strains.