| abstract |
The invention relates to a vector intended for the expression of a protein or a polypeptide in a bacterium and comprising a first DNA sequence encoding at least one secretion signal of a lipoprotein, and a second DNA sequence. encoding a protein or fragment thereof, or a polypeptide or peptide heterologous to the bacteria which expresses the protein or fragment thereof, or a polypeptide or peptide. The bacterium expresses a fusion protein of a lipoprotein or a segment of lipoprotein and the protein or a fragment thereof, or the heterologous polypeptide or peptide with respect to the bacterium which expresses the protein or a fragment thereof -ci, or the polypeptide or the peptide. Such expression vectors increase the immunogenicity of the protein or fragment thereof, or of the polypeptide or peptide, by allowing the protein or fragment thereof, or the polypeptide or peptide, to be expressed on the surface of the bacteria. Mycobacteria such as BCG are included in the bacteria which can be transformed by means of this expression vector. The expression vectors according to the present invention can be used in the preparation of live bacterial vaccines against Lyme arthritis and in this case the bacteria express a surface protein of Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent responsible for Lyme arthritis . |