Construction and characterization of attenuated delta aroA delta virG Shigella flexneri 2a strain CVD 1203, a prototype live oral vaccine

We engineered an oral Shigella vaccine prototype that can invade intestinal epithelial cells but cannot undergo extensive intracellular replication or extend to adjacent epithelial cells. Strain CVD 1203, derived from wild-type Shigella flexneri 2a by introducing deletions in chromosomal aroA and invasion plasmid virG, was highly attenuated in the Sereny test. Two 10(9)-CFU orogastric doses (2 weeks apart) stimulated production of secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies to S. flexneri 2a and protected against conjunctival sac challenge with virulent S. flexneri 2a.