BCG Vaccine Efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is Enhanced by the Alveolar Lining Fluid of the Lung
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Date
2017-03
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Abstract
Few studies have considered the impact of the human lung environment in tuberculosis vaccination design. However, we have shown that exposure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) to human lung mucosa [alveolar lining fluid (ALF)] modifies the M.tb cell wall, revealing alternate antigenic epitopes on the bacterium surface that effect its pathogenicity. Here we vaccinated mice with ALF-exposed BCG, mimicking the mycobacterial cell surface properties that would be present in the lung during M.tb infection. ALF-exposed BCG vaccinated mice were more effective at reducing M.tb bacterial burden in the lung and spleen, and had reduced lung inflammation at late stages of M.tb infection. Improved BCG efficacy was associated with and dependent on increased numbers of memory and IFNy secreting CD8+ T-cells in the lung in response to M.tb challenge. We conclude that ALF modifications to the M.tb cell wall in vivo are relevant in the context of vaccine design.
Description
Biological Sciences: 2nd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Keywords
Tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, BCG vaccine, lung immunology, CD8 T cell