Generation of recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guérin and Mycobacterium smegmatis expressing BfpA and intimin as vaccine vectors against enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

► We constructed rSmeg_pMIP_(bfpA or intimin) and rBCG_pMIP_(bfpA or intimin) vectors. ► The vectors contain the bfpa and intimin encoding genes. ► The vectors are stable, replicate and express BfpA and intimin. ► Vectors induce effective immune response measured by specific antibody and cytokines. ► The antibodies block in vitro enteropathogenic E. coli adhesion to epithelial cells. ► The constructed recombinant BfpA and intimin vectors are promising vaccines.