Figure 3.
Intranasal vaccination with mRNA-Hsp65 protects mice against tuberculosis. Five BALB/c mice per group were immunized by intranasal route with a dose of different formulations containing mRNA-Hsp65 or EF-1α mRNA. BCG group received subcutaneously 1 dose of BCG Moreau. Non vaccinated group received only the Ringer's solution. Thirty days after the last immunization, animals were challenged with 105 bacilli of the virulent H37Rv strain of M. tuberculosis by intranasal route. Thirty days after challenge, animals were euthanized and their lungs extracted for the evaluation of the bacterial load. Data represent the mean log10 CFU counts ± SD of five mice per group of one of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 were considered significant when compared to non vaccinated group.