Recombinant BCG expressing the LTAK63 adjuvant increased memory T cells and induced long-lasting protection against challenge in mice.

Vaccine-induced protection against is usually ascribed to the induction of Th1, Th17, and CD8 T cells. However, protective immune responses should also involve other immune cell subsets, such as memory T cells. We have previously shown improved protection against challenge using the rBCG-LTAK63 vaccine (a recombinant BCG strain expressing the LTAK63 adjuvant, a genetically detoxified derivative of the A subunit from heat-labile toxin).

Recombinant BCG expressing the LTAK63 adjuvant improves a short-term chemotherapy schedule in the control of tuberculosis in mice.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest infectious diseases around the world. Prevention is based on the prophylactic use of BCG vaccine, effective in infants but as protection wanes with time, adults are less protected. Additionally, chemotherapy requires the use of many antibiotics for several months to be effective.

Live Vaccines Have Different NK Cells and Neutrophils Requirements for the Development of a Protective Immune Response Against Tuberculosis.

It has been shown that neutrophils drive NK cells to activate DCs while NK cells regulate neutrophils survival. In response to mycobacteria, NK cells proliferate and produces IFN-γ, that appears to regulate the neutrophilic inflammatory responses to both infection and BCG vaccination. Although the role of neutrophils in the immune response to tuberculosis is a matter of debate, neutrophils were shown to be crucial to induce specific response against mc-CMX vaccine.

Specific T cell induction using iron oxide based nanoparticles as subunit vaccine adjuvant.

Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) stimulate innate immunity; however, they have never been demonstrated to be capable of aiding the generation of specific cellular immune responses. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate whether iron oxide-based NPs have adjuvant properties in generating cellular Th1, Th17 and TCD8 (Tc1) immune responses. For this purpose, a fusion protein (CMX) composed of antigens was used as a subunit vaccine.

Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Vaccinology: Implications for Infectious Disease Vaccine Development.

Subunit vaccines are safer but less immunogenic than live-attenuated vaccines or whole cell inactivated vaccines. Adjuvants are used to enhance and modulate antigen (Ag) immunogenicity, aiming to induce a protective and long-lasting immune response. Several molecules and formulations have been studied for their adjuvanticity, but only seven have been approved to formulate human vaccines.

Role of Fused Mycobacterium tuberculosis Immunogens and Adjuvants in Modern Tuberculosis Vaccines.

Several approaches have been developed to improve or replace the only available vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin). The development of subunit protein vaccines is a promising strategy because it combines specificity and safety. In addition, subunit protein vaccines can be designed to have selected immune epitopes associated with immunomodulating components to drive the appropriate immune response.