Enrichment analyses of the signal pathway.
We performed the analysis on the pathway enrichment of DE genes by using
the KEGG database to screen out the enriched metabolic pathways or
signal transduction pathways. We selected the top 20 pathways ranked by
enrichment score in the TB model group, and then counted the enrichment
scores of these pathways in each ag85a/b DNA vaccine group to
analyze the effects of ag85a/b DNA vaccine on metabolic pathways
or signal transduction pathways and the repair effects to the damage
caused by MTB infection (Table 4 and 5). The results showed that: (1)
Most of the pathways with up-regulated enrichment scores in the TB model
group were related to nutrient digestion and absorption or endocrine and
neuroendocrine, for example, insulin secretion, digestion and absorption
of protein and Fat, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, etc. Most
of the pathways with down-regulated enrichment scores in the TB model
group were related to immune responses or enzyme metabolism, for
example, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling
pathway, Focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, and metabolism of
xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, etc. (2) The enrichment score of the top
20 pathways in the TB model group had no significant change in the 10μg
and 50μg DNA IM groups. However, most of them were reversed in the other
6 groups with the ag85a/b DNA vaccine.