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Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis
Published on: July 28, 2023
What's Old and New in Tuberculosis Vaccines for Children
Lisa M Cranmer1,2,3, Mark F Cotton4, Cheryl L Day5,6
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
New pediatric tuberculosis (TB) vaccines are advancing to replace the sole existing option, bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Research is crucial to expand the TB vaccine pipeline for children and combat global child mortality.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Vaccinology
- Global child health
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant cause of mortality in children worldwide.
- The bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been the only available TB vaccine for infants, with limited efficacy.
- Recent advancements have spurred the development of novel pediatric TB vaccine candidates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical context of the BCG vaccine.
- To outline current pediatric TB vaccine candidates undergoing clinical trials.
- To identify challenges and opportunities in pediatric TB vaccine research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of TB vaccine history and development.
- Analysis of the current pediatric TB vaccine pipeline.
- Discussion of future research directions and needs.
Main Results:
- The pediatric TB vaccine landscape has evolved significantly in the last decade.
- Novel whole-cell and subunit vaccines are being evaluated to replace infant BCG and boost adolescent immunity.
- Despite progress, the pipeline for pediatric TB vaccines requires further expansion.
Conclusions:
- Children are a priority population for TB vaccine development.
- Expanding the pediatric TB vaccine pipeline is essential to control and eliminate TB globally.
- Continued research and investment are critical to address the unmet needs in pediatric TB prevention.
Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of global child mortality. Until the turn of the 21st century, Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was the only vaccine to prevent TB. The pediatric TB vaccine pipeline has advanced in the past decade to include the evaluation of novel whole cell vaccines to replace infant BCG and investigation of subunit and whole cell vaccines to boost TB immunity during adolescence. We describe the history of BCG, current TB vaccine candidates in clinical trials, and the challenges and opportunities for future TB vaccine research in children. Children are a critical target population for TB vaccines, and expansion of the pediatric TB vaccine pipeline is urgently needed to end the TB pandemic.
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