Mouse TB models and DNA vaccine treatment
The preparation of the mouse TB model and the immunotherapy with DNA
vaccine were conducted in our previous study (31). In brief,96 MTB
H37Rv-infected female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the
following groups: (1) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); (2) 10 µgag85a/b DNA IM; (3) 50 µg ag85a/b DNA IM; (4) 100 µgag85a/b DNA IM; (5) 200 µg ag85a/b DNA IM; (6) 10 µgag85a/b DNA IM+EP; (7) 50 µg ag85a/b DNA IM+EP; (8) 100 µgag85a/b DNA IM+EP; (9) 200 µg ag85a/b DNA IM+EP. On the
third day after MTB infection, the mice were immunized three times at
two-week intervals, respectively. EP was performed at 36 Voltage and 25
Hz, and six pulses of 10 ms in 3mm depth of thigh muscle of the hind leg
of a mouse using a TERESA Gene Delivery Device (TERESA Health Technology
Co., LTD, Shanghai, China).