bioA mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows severe growth defect and imparts protection against tuberculosis in guinea pigs

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 28;12(6):e0179513. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179513. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Owing to the devastation caused by tuberculosis along with the unsatisfactory performance of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, a more efficient vaccine than BCG is required for the global control of tuberculosis. A number of studies have demonstrated an essential role of biotin biosynthesis in the growth and survival of several microorganisms, including mycobacteria, through deletion of the genes involved in de novo biotin biosynthesis. In this study, we demonstrate that a bioA mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtbΔbioA) is highly attenuated in the guinea pig model of tuberculosis when administered aerogenically as well as intradermally. Immunization with MtbΔbioA conferred significant protection in guinea pigs against an aerosol challenge with virulent M. tuberculosis, when compared with the unvaccinated animals. Booster immunization with MtbΔbioA offered no advantage over a single immunization. These experiments demonstrate the vaccinogenic potential of the attenuated M. tuberculosis bioA mutant against tuberculosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Transaminases / genetics*
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control*
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / immunology
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines
  • Transaminases
  • BioA protein, bacteria

Grants and funding

This work was supported by financial grant from Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India (Grant Number – BT/01/COE/05/06-II). RK and PN are grateful to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, for research fellowships. SM is grateful to Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for research fellowship. SS is grateful to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India for research fellowship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.