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Micro-Colony Forming Unit Assay for Efficacy Evaluation of Vaccines Against Tuberculosis
Published on: July 28, 2023
New tuberculosis vaccines.
Carlos Martín Montañés1, Brigitte Gicquel
1Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Zaragoza, Spain. carlos@unizar.es
Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica
|March 23, 2011
Summary
New tuberculosis (TB) vaccines are in development to improve protection against pulmonary TB. Current research focuses on boosting bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or creating new live vaccines to replace BCG.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The current bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine offers protection against severe tuberculosis (TB) but has variable efficacy against pulmonary TB, the primary form responsible for disease transmission.
- No new TB vaccines have been successfully developed in over 80 years, highlighting a critical need for improved preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review new prophylactic vaccine candidates aimed at preventing TB diseases, focusing on next-generation vaccines effective against respiratory forms.
- To discuss the two main strategies for developing new TB vaccines: boosting BCG with subunit vaccines and creating novel live attenuated vaccines to replace BCG.
Main Methods:
- The review focuses on vaccine candidates progressing through preclinical studies and human clinical trials (Phase I, II, and III).
- Emphasis is placed on strategies involving BCG prime-boost regimens and novel live attenuated vaccines.
- Vaccine candidates are evaluated for safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in preclinical animal models and human trials.
Main Results:
- BCG prime and boost strategies with subunit vaccine candidates are the most advanced, currently in Phase II clinical trials.
- Two recombinant BCG-based prime vaccines have successfully completed Phase I safety trials.
- Several live attenuated vaccine candidates are in advanced preclinical development, with some nearing Phase I safety trials.
Conclusions:
- Significant scientific effort is directed towards developing a new generation of TB vaccines to overcome the limitations of BCG.
- Promising candidates are emerging, utilizing both prime-boost and novel live attenuated vaccine approaches.
- The progression through clinical trial phases indicates a potential for new TB vaccines to become available in the future.
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