Multi-subunit BCG booster vaccine GamTBvac: Assessment of immunogenicity and protective efficacy in murine and guinea pig TB models

PLoS One. 2017 Apr 28;12(4):e0176784. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176784. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

New innovative vaccines are highly needed to combat the global threat posed by tuberculosis. Efficient components-antigens and adjuvants-are crucial for development of modern recombinant TB vaccines. This study describes a new vaccine (GamTBvac) consisting of two mycobacterial antigen fusions (Ag85A and ESAT6-CFP10)-with dextran-binding domain immobilized on dextran and mixed with an adjuvant consisting of DEAE-dextran core, and with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (TLR9 agonists). GamTBvac and its components were assessed for immunogenicity and protective efficacy in GamTBvac-prime/boost and BCG-prime/ GamTBvac-boost in murine and guinea pig TB models. Results show that in both infectious models, GamTBvac has a strong immunogenicity and significant protective effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv under aerosol and intravenous challenges. GamTBvac showed a particularly strong protective effect as a BCG booster vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Aerosols
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • BCG Vaccine* / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Immunization
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Immunogenicity, Vaccine
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control*
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines* / immunology
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Aerosols
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • BCG Vaccine
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • Vaccines, Synthetic

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants #11411.1008700.13.019 and #11411.1008700.13.022 awarded by the Ministry of Industry of the Russian Federation.