Successes and failures in human tuberculosis vaccine development

Area of Science:

• Immunology and Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a leading infectious cause of death globally.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 10.5 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths in 2016.
• Current Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination limitations necessitate novel vaccine development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review promising candidate vaccines against tuberculosis.
• To discuss critical factors in TB vaccine development, including animal models, adjuvants, immunization routes, and candidate identification strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current TB vaccine research and development.
• Analysis of key components influencing vaccine efficacy and delivery.

Main Results:

• Approximately 13 TB candidate vaccines are currently in clinical trials.
• No vaccine has yet surpassed the efficacy of the BCG vaccine.
• Understanding TB infection and immune response mechanisms remains a significant challenge.

Conclusions:

• Technological advancements are facilitating the proposal of new TB vaccine candidates.
• Effective development and administration of new TB vaccines require coordinated global efforts.
• Addressing knowledge gaps in TB pathogenesis and immunity is essential for future vaccine success.