| The Listeria monocytogenes murine model of infection has been extensively studied for decades. The immunology, cell biology, molecular biology and pathogenesis of L. monocytogeizes infection are defined in much detail. We hypothesized that L. monocytogenes would be an efficacious recombinant vector capable of inducing strong and potentially protective cellular responses against foreign antigens, as suggested by the cell biology and immunology of L. monocytogenes infection. To test our hypothesis, the influenza virus nucleoprotein was chosen as a model antigen. The influenza virus infection in mice is well studied; influenza nucleoprotein is a major target of the influenza-specific T cell responses. The gene encoding nucleoprotein was introduced into L. monocytogenes; the recombinant bacteria were able to make and secrete the viral protein in the form of a fusion protein. The sequence coding for the K... |
