Bacterial expression vectors containing DNA encoding secretion signals of lipoproteins

Abstract

An expression vector for expressing a protein or polypeptide in a bacterium, which comprises a first DNA sequence encoding at least a secretion signal of a lipoprotein, and a second DNA sequence encoding a protein or fragment thereof, or polypeptide or peptide heterologous to the bacterium which expresses the protein or fragment thereof, or polypeptide or peptide. The bacterium expresses a fusion protein a lipoprotein or lipoprotein segment and the protein or fragment thereof, or polypeptide or peptide heterologous to the bacterium which expresses the protein or fragment thereof, or polypeptide or peptide. Such expression vectors increase the immunogenicity of the protein or fragment thereof, or polypeptide or peptide by enabling the protein or fragment thereof, or polypeptide or peptide to be expressed on the surface of the bacterium. Bacteria which may be transformed with the expression vector include mycobacteria such as BCG. The expression vectors of the present invention may be employed in the formation of live bacterial vaccines against Lyme disease wherein the bacteria express a surface protein of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.