Antigens for DNA Vaccines Against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global disease caused by a bacterial pathogen and it has existed in the world since antiquity. It is suggested that TB has killed maximum number of people in the world, when compared with other diseases caused by microbial agents [1]. According to the most recent data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), TB was the leading cause of human deaths from a single pathogen, ranking above HIV/AIDS. According to the WHO report, 10.4 million people became diseased, and 1.7 million people died from TB in 2016 [2]. Among the factors contributing to continued carnage due to TB include the non-availability of an effective vaccine that can consistently provide protection in all countries of the world and different manifestations of TB [3]. The currently available vaccine, i.e. Mycobacterium bovis BCG is inconsistent in providing protection against TB in different parts of the world [4]. Hence, work is in progress to develop alternative vaccines based on whole organisms and subunit vaccines, including DNA vaccines [5].