Isolated mutant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria comprising a deletion in the ESAT-6 gene cluster region 3 (esx-3 region) are provided, as well as compositions comprising such, methods of production thereof and methods of use thereof.
1. A method of eliciting an immune response in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a non-naturally occurring mutant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium, wherein the mutation of the mutant M. tuberculosis consists of a deletion of the entire esx-3 region of a genome thereof, in an amount effective to elicit an immune response.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mutant M. tuberculosis is administered as a composition comprising the mutant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium and a carrier.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the composition further comprises an immunological adjuvant.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mutant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium is live.