Provided herein are Mycobacterium smegmatis porin nanopores, systems that comprise these nanopores, and methods of using and making these nanopores. Such nanopores may be wild-type MspA porins, mutant MspA porins, wild-type MspA paralog porins, wild-type MspA homolog porins, mutant MspA paralog porins, mutant MspA homolog porins, or single-chain Msp porins. Also provided are bacterial strains capable of inducible Msp porin expression.

Described herein is a Mycobacterium mutant, comprising at least one mutation in at least one gene sequence encoding global gene regulators (GGRs) selected from the group consisting of sigH, sigL, sigE, ECF-1, and mixtures thereof, wherein the GGR gene is at least partially inactivated. Described herein also is a vaccine based on the mutant and a method of differentiating between subjects that have been infected with Mycobacterium and subjects that have not been infected with Mycobacterium or have been vaccinated with a Mycobacterium vaccine.

Described herein is a Mycobacterium mutant, comprising at least one mutation in at least one gene sequence encoding global gene regulators (GGRs) selected from the group consisting of sigH, sigL, sigE, ECF-1, and mixtures thereof, wherein the GGR gene is at least partially inactivated. Described herein also is a vaccine based on the mutant and a method of differentiating between subjects that have been infected with Mycobacterium and subjects that have not been infected with Mycobacterium or have been vaccinated with a Mycobacterium vaccine.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for inducing an immune response to a composition of the invention in a subject. Additionally, the present disclosure generally relates to methods for screening for immune response to a composition of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for inducing an immune response to a composition of the invention in a subject. Additionally, the present disclosure generally relates to methods for screening for immune response to a composition of the invention.

The present disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules, compositions comprising the same, and methods of eliciting an immune response against tuberculosis.

The present disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules, compositions comprising the same, and methods of eliciting an immune response against tuberculosis.

The invention is directed to portions of proteins of gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative, acid-fast bacteria (Mycobacteria, Staphylococcus) and/or virus (SARS-COV-2, Influenza), and antibodies reactive against these portions that can be formulated as immunogenic compositions and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of a microbial and/or viral infections. Preferably, compositions of the invention contain one or more portions of selected microbial and/or viral proteins that, upon administration to a subject, generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response, modulate immunity and a cytokine response. Effective responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against an infection and promote an enhanced a phagocytic response. Monoclonal antibodies produced against these peptides enhance phagocytosis and killing of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes by phagocytic cells, and enhance clearance from the blood.

The invention is directed to portions of proteins of gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative, acid-fast bacteria (Mycobacteria, Staphylococcus) and/or virus (SARS-COV-2, Influenza), and antibodies reactive against these portions that can be formulated as immunogenic compositions and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of a microbial and/or viral infections. Preferably, compositions of the invention contain one or more portions of selected microbial and/or viral proteins that, upon administration to a subject, generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response, modulate immunity and a cytokine response. Effective responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against an infection and promote an enhanced a phagocytic response. Monoclonal antibodies produced against these peptides enhance phagocytosis and killing of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes by phagocytic cells, and enhance clearance from the blood.

The present disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, vectors comprising nucleic acid molecules, compositions comprising the same, and methods of eliciting an immune response against tuberculosis.