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Kwon KW, Choi HG, Kim KS, Park SA, Kim HJ, Shin SJ. BCG-booster vaccination with HSP90-ESAT-6-HspX-RipA multivalent subunit vaccine confers durable protection against hypervirulent Mtb in mice. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:55. [PMID: 38459038 PMCID: PMC10923817 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00847-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The quest for effective and enhanced multiantigenic tuberculosis (TB) subunit vaccine necessitates the induction of a protective pathogen-specific immune response while circumventing detrimental inflammation within the lung milieu. In line with this goal, we engineered a modified iteration of the quadrivalent vaccine, namely HSP90-ESAT-6-HspX-RipA (HEHR), which was coupled with the TLR4 adjuvant, CIA09A. The ensuing formulation was subjected to comprehensive assessment to gauge its protective efficacy against the hypervirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) Haarlem clinical strain M2, following a BCG-prime boost regimen. Regardless of vaccination route, both intramuscular and subcutaneous administration with the HEHR vaccine exhibited remarkable protective efficacy in significantly reducing the Mtb bacterial burden and pulmonary inflammation. This underscores its notably superior protective potential compared to the BCG vaccine alone or a former prototype, the HSP90-E6 subunit vaccine. In addition, this superior protective efficacy was confirmed when testing a tag-free version of the HEHR vaccine. Furthermore, the protective immune determinant, represented by durable antigen-specific CD4+IFN-γ+IL-17A+ T-cells expressing a CXCR3+KLRG1- cell surface phenotype in the lung, was robustly induced in HEHR-boosted mice at 12 weeks post-challenge. Collectively, our data suggest that the BCG-prime HEHR boost vaccine regimen conferred improved and long-term protection against hypervirulent Mtb strain with robust antigen-specific Th1/Th17 responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kee Woong Kwon
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, South Korea
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52727, South Korea
| | - Han-Gyu Choi
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015, South Korea
| | | | - Shin Ae Park
- R&D Center, EyeGene Inc., Goyang, 10551, South Korea
| | - Hwa-Jung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015, South Korea.
| | - Sung Jae Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Disease, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
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2
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Morrison AL, Sarfas C, Sibley L, Williams J, Mabbutt A, Dennis MJ, Lawrence S, White AD, Bodman-Smith M, Sharpe SA. IV BCG Vaccination and Aerosol BCG Revaccination Induce Mycobacteria-Responsive γδ T Cells Associated with Protective Efficacy against M. tb Challenge. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1604. [PMID: 37897006 PMCID: PMC10611416 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Intravenously (IV) delivered BCG provides superior tuberculosis (TB) protection compared with the intradermal (ID) route in non-human primates (NHPs). We examined how γδ T cell responses changed in vivo after IV BCG vaccination of NHPs, and whether these correlated with protection against aerosol M. tuberculosis challenge. In the circulation, Vδ2 T cell populations expanded after IV BCG vaccination, from a median of 1.5% (range: 0.8-2.3) of the CD3+ population at baseline, to 5.3% (range: 1.4-29.5) 4 weeks after M. tb, and were associated with TB protection. This protection was related to effector and central memory profiles; homing markers; and production of IFN-γ, TNF-α and granulysin. In comparison, Vδ2 cells did not expand after ID BCG, but underwent phenotypic and functional changes. When Vδ2 responses in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were compared between routes, IV BCG vaccination resulted in highly functional mucosal Vδ2 cells, whereas ID BCG did not. We sought to explore whether an aerosol BCG boost following ID BCG vaccination could induce a γδ profile comparable to that induced with IV BCG. We found evidence that the aerosol BCG boost induced significant changes in the Vδ2 phenotype and function in cells isolated from the BAL. These results indicate that Vδ2 population frequency, activation and function are characteristic features of responses induced with IV BCG, and the translation of responses from the circulation to the site of infection could be a limiting factor in the response induced following ID BCG. An aerosol boost was able to localise activated Vδ2 populations at the mucosal surfaces of the lung. This vaccine strategy warrants further investigation to boost the waning human ID BCG response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Morrison
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Charlotte Sarfas
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Laura Sibley
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Jessica Williams
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Adam Mabbutt
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Mike J. Dennis
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Steve Lawrence
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Andrew D. White
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Mark Bodman-Smith
- Infection and Immunity Research Institute, St. George’s University of London, London SW17 0BD, UK
| | - Sally A. Sharpe
- Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
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3
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Unger H, Kangethe RT, Liaqat F, Viljoen GJ. Advances in Irradiated Livestock Vaccine Research and Production Addressing the Unmet Needs for Farmers and Veterinary Services in FAO/IAEA Member States. Front Immunol 2022; 13:853874. [PMID: 35418985 PMCID: PMC8997582 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.853874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Animal Production and Health section (APH) of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture at the International Atomic Energy Agency has over the last 58 years provided technical and scientific support to more than 100 countries through co-ordinated research activities and technical co-operation projects in peaceful uses of nuclear technologies. A key component of this support has been the development of irradiated vaccines targeting diseases that are endemic to participating countries. APH laboratories has over the last decade developed new techniques and has put in place a framework that allows researchers from participating member states to develop relevant vaccines targeting local diseases while using irradiation as a tool for improving livestock resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Unger
- Animal Production and Health Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard T Kangethe
- Animal Production and Health Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Fatima Liaqat
- Animal Production and Health Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerrit J Viljoen
- Animal Production and Health Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
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4
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A multiple T cell epitope comprising DNA vaccine boosts the protective efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:677. [PMID: 32942991 PMCID: PMC7495405 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05372-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Approximately 80% - 90% of individuals infected with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remain protected throughout their life-span. The release of unique, latent-phase antigens are known to have a protective role in the immune response against Mtb. Although the BCG vaccine has been administered for nine decades to provide immunity against Mtb, the number of TB cases continues to rise, thereby raising doubts on BCG vaccine efficacy. The shortcomings of BCG have been associated with inadequate processing and presentation of its antigens, an inability to optimally activate T cells against Mtb, and generation of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, BCG vaccination lacks the ability to eliminate latent Mtb infection. With these facts in mind, we selected six immunodominant CD4 and CD8 T cell epitopes of Mtb expressed during latent, acute, and chronic stages of infection and engineered a multi-epitope-based DNA vaccine (C6). Result BALB/c mice vaccinated with the C6 construct along with a BCG vaccine exhibited an expansion of both CD4 and CD8 T cell memory populations and augmented IFN-γ and TNF-α cytokine release. Furthermore, enhancement of dendritic cell and macrophage activation was noted. Consequently, illustrating the elicitation of immunity that helps in the protection against Mtb infection; which was evident by a significant reduction in the Mtb burden in the lungs and spleen of C6 + BCG administered animals. Conclusion Overall, the results suggest that a C6 + BCG vaccination approach may serve as an effective vaccination strategy in future attempts to control TB.
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Antigen-Specific IFN-γ/IL-17-Co-Producing CD4 + T-Cells Are the Determinants for Protective Efficacy of Tuberculosis Subunit Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020300. [PMID: 32545304 PMCID: PMC7350228 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The antigen-specific Th17 responses in the lungs for improved immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection are incompletely understood. Tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate HSP90-ESAT-6 (E6), given as a Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-prime boost regimen, confers superior long-term protection against the hypervirulent Mtb HN878 infection, compared to BCG or BCG-E6. Taking advantage of protective efficacy lead-out, we found that ESAT-6-specific multifunctional CD4+IFN-γ+IL-17+ T-cells optimally correlated with protection level against Mtb infection both pre-and post-challenge. Macrophages treated with the supernatant of re-stimulated lung cells from HSP90-E6-immunised mice significantly restricted Mtb growth, and this phenomenon was abrogated by neutralising anti-IFN-γ and/or anti-IL-17 antibodies. We identified a previously unrecognised role for IFN-γ/IL-17 synergism in linking anti-mycobacterial phagosomal activity to enhance host control against Mtb infection. The implications of our findings highlight the fundamental rationale for why and how Th17 responses are essential in the control of Mtb, and for the development of novel anti-TB subunit vaccines.
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Lesellier S, Boschiroli ML, Barrat J, Wanke C, Salguero FJ, Garcia-Jimenez WL, Nunez A, Godinho A, Spiropoulos J, Palmer S, Dave D, Anderson P, Boucher JM, de Cruz K, Henault S, Michelet L, Gowtage S, Williams GA, Nadian AK, Monchâtre-Leroy E, Boué F, Chambers MA, Richomme C. Detection of live M. bovis BCG in tissues and IFN-γ responses in European badgers (Meles meles) vaccinated by oropharyngeal instillation or directly in the ileum. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:445. [PMID: 31810466 PMCID: PMC6898942 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2166-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Oral vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) has provided protection against M. bovis to badgers both experimentally and in the field. There is also evidence suggesting that the persistence of live BCG within the host is important for maintaining protection against TB. Here we investigated the capacity of badger inductive mucosal sites to absorb and maintain live BCG. The targeted mucosae were the oropharyngeal cavity (tonsils and sublingual area) and the small intestine (ileum). Results We showed that significant quantities of live BCG persisted within badger in tissues of vaccinated badgers for at least 8 weeks following oral vaccination with only very mild pathological features and induced the circulation of IFNγ-producing mononuclear cells. The uptake of live BCG by tonsils and drainage to retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes was repeatable in the animal group vaccinated by oropharyngeal instillation whereas those vaccinated directly in the ileum displayed a lower frequency of BCG detection in the enteric wall or draining mesenteric lymph nodes. No faecal excretion of live BCG was observed, including when BCG was delivered directly in the ileum. Conclusions The apparent local loss of BCG viability suggests an unfavorable gastro-enteric environment for BCG in badgers, which should be taken in consideration when developing an oral vaccine for use in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Lesellier
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, New Haw, UK. .,Anses, Nancy laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Malzéville, France. .,Public Health England, Porton Down, UK.
| | - Maria-Laura Boschiroli
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory, University Paris-Est, Anses, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jacques Barrat
- Anses, Nancy laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Malzéville, France
| | - Christoph Wanke
- Medimetrics Personalized Drug Delivery B.V., High Tech Campus 10, 5656 AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Francisco J Salguero
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, New Haw, UK.,Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | | | - Alex Nunez
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, New Haw, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Krystel de Cruz
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory, University Paris-Est, Anses, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sylvie Henault
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory, University Paris-Est, Anses, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lorraine Michelet
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory, University Paris-Est, Anses, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Frank Boué
- Anses, Nancy laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Malzéville, France
| | - Mark A Chambers
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, New Haw, UK.,University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Céline Richomme
- Anses, Nancy laboratory for rabies and wildlife, Malzéville, France
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7
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Choi HG, Choi S, Back YW, Paik S, Park HS, Kim WS, Kim H, Cha SB, Choi CH, Shin SJ, Kim HJ. Rv2299c, a novel dendritic cell-activating antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, fused-ESAT-6 subunit vaccine confers improved and durable protection against the hypervirulent strain HN878 in mice. Oncotarget 2017; 8:19947-19967. [PMID: 28193909 PMCID: PMC5386736 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding functional interactions between DCs and antigens is necessary for achieving an optimal and desired immune response during vaccine development. Here, we identified and characterized protein Rv2299c (heat-shock protein 90 family), which effectively induced DC maturation. The Rv2299c-maturated DCs showed increased expression of surface molecules and production of proinflammatory cytokines. Rv2299c induced these effects by binding to TLR4 and stimulating the downstream MyD88-, MAPK- and NF-κB-dependent signaling pathways. The Rv2299c-maturated DCs also showed an induced Th1 cell response with bactericidal activity and expansion of effector/memory T cells. The Rv2299c-ESAT-6 fused protein had greater immunoreactivity than ESAT-6. Furthermore, boosting BCG with the fused protein significantly reduced hypervirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis HN878 burdens post-challenge. The pathological study of the lung from the challenged mice assured the efficacy of the fused protein. The fused protein boosting also induced Rv2299c-ESAT-6-specific multifunctional CD4+ T-cell response in the lungs of the challenged mice. Our findings suggest that Rv2299c is an excellent candidate for the rational design of an effective multiantigenic TB vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Gyu Choi
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunga Choi
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Woo Back
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungwha Paik
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Soo Park
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Sik Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongmin Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Bin Cha
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Hee Choi
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Jae Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Jung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, and Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Kaufmann SHE, Dockrell HM, Drager N, Ho MM, McShane H, Neyrolles O, Ottenhoff THM, Patel B, Roordink D, Spertini F, Stenger S, Thole J, Verreck FAW, Williams A. TBVAC2020: Advancing Tuberculosis Vaccines from Discovery to Clinical Development. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1203. [PMID: 29046674 PMCID: PMC5632681 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
TBVAC2020 is a research project supported by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission (EC). It aims at the discovery and development of novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccines from preclinical research projects to early clinical assessment. The project builds on previous collaborations from 1998 onwards funded through the EC framework programs FP5, FP6, and FP7. It has succeeded in attracting new partners from outstanding laboratories from all over the world, now totaling 40 institutions. Next to the development of novel vaccines, TB biomarker development is also considered an important asset to facilitate rational vaccine selection and development. In addition, TBVAC2020 offers portfolio management that provides selection criteria for entry, gating, and priority settings of novel vaccines at an early developmental stage. The TBVAC2020 consortium coordinated by TBVI facilitates collaboration and early data sharing between partners with the common aim of working toward the development of an effective TB vaccine. Close links with funders and other consortia with shared interests further contribute to this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H E Kaufmann
- Department of Immunology, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hazel M Dockrell
- Immunology and Infection Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Drager
- Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI), Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Mei Mei Ho
- Bacteriology Division, MHRA-NIBSC, Potters Bar, United Kingdom
| | | | - Olivier Neyrolles
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Brij Patel
- RegExcel Consulting Ltd, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Jelle Thole
- Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI), Lelystad, Netherlands
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9
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Sharpe S, White A, Sarfas C, Sibley L, Gleeson F, McIntyre A, Basaraba R, Clark S, Hall G, Rayner E, Williams A, Marsh PD, Dennis M. Alternative BCG delivery strategies improve protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in non-human primates: Protection associated with mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4 effector memory T-cell populations. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2016; 101:174-190. [PMID: 27865390 PMCID: PMC5120991 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Intradermal (ID) BCG injection provides incomplete protection against TB in humans and experimental models. Alternative BCG vaccination strategies may improve protection in model species, including rhesus macaques. This study compares the immunogenicity and efficacy of BCG administered by ID and intravenous (IV) injection, or as an intratracheal mucosal boost (ID + IT), against aerosol challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman strain. Disease pathology was significantly reduced, and survival improved, by each BCG vaccination strategy, relative to unvaccinated animals. However, IV induced protection surpassed that achieved by all other routes, providing an opportunity to explore protective immunological mechanisms using antigen-specific IFN-γ ELISpot and polychromatic flow cytometry assays. IFN-γ spot forming units and multifunctional CD4 T-cell frequencies increased significantly following each vaccination regimen and were greatest following IV immunisation. Vaccine-induced multifunctional CD4 T-cells producing IFN-γ and TNF-α were associated with reduced disease pathology following subsequent M.tb challenge; however, high frequencies of this population following M.tb infection correlated with increased pathology. Cytokine producing T-cells primarily occupied the CD4 transitional effector memory phenotype, implicating this population as central to the mycobacterial response, potentially contributing to the stringent control observed in IV vaccinated animals. This study demonstrates the protective efficacy of IV BCG vaccination in rhesus macaques, offering a valuable tool for the interrogation of immunological mechanisms and potential correlates of protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sharpe
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK.
| | - A White
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - C Sarfas
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - L Sibley
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - F Gleeson
- Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - A McIntyre
- Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - R Basaraba
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - S Clark
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - G Hall
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - E Rayner
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - A Williams
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - P D Marsh
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - M Dennis
- Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK
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