MYCOPLASMA PULMONIS ANTIGENS AND METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR USE IN CLONING AND VACCINATION

摘要

The cloning, sequencing and expression of an (M. pulmonis) antigen, and the development of cloning and vaccination systems are disclosed. A strategy is described which allows the cloning of antigens despite the presence of codons which would normally cause transcription arrest in (E. coli). Using this method, an (M. pulmonis) antigen was cloned and produced as a fusion protein, and the major epitope was identified. Transfection into lytic and lysogenic (E. coli) resulted in the production of the product. The antigen was shown to elicit antibody production in mice, including IgG and IgA production in the tracheolong lavage. Transfected lysogenic (E. coli) were used for vaccination. The production of the immunogen can be regulated (in vivo) by controlled feeding with the inducer, IPTG. This method of controlled vaccination, employing inducible immunizing agents, is proposed to be generally applicable to a wide range of organisms and diseases.