Boosting with mycobacterial heparin-binding haemagglutinin enhances protection of Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated newborn mice against M. tuberculosis

Vaccine. 2010 Jun 17;28(27):4340-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.04.062. Epub 2010 May 4.

Abstract

Heterologous prime-boost regimens are a valuable strategy to improve the generation of effector-memory T cell responses against intracellular pathogens. In this study we show that newborn mice vaccinated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and boosted with heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA) had enhanced protective immunity against intranasal or aerosol Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge over non-boosted mice, as evidenced by a considerable reduction of mycobacterial load in spleen and lung. The route of HBHA delivery had a differential impact on cytokine and antibody production in BCG-primed mice. The prime-boost regimen induced not only HBHA-specific IFN-gamma, but also other cytokines, such as IL-12 and TGF-beta, which may be associated with the generation of lung Th1 effector-memory lymphocytes, responsible for the enhanced protection against M. tuberculosis challenge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Immunization, Secondary / methods*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Lectins / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control

Substances

  • Lectins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • heparin-binding hemagglutinin
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma