Protective Effect and Immune Mechanism of EPCP009 Booster Immunization after BCG Prime Immunization Against Tuberculosis in Mice - China, 2024

Ruihuan Wang; Xueting Fan; Machao Li; Xiuqin Zhao; Xinyue He; Kanglin Wan; Haican Liu

doi:10.46234/ccdcw2025.225

Protective Effect and Immune Mechanism of EPCP009 Booster Immunization after BCG Prime Immunization Against Tuberculosis in Mice - China, 2024

China CDC Wkly. 2025 Oct 17;7(42):1329-1336. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2025.225.

Authors

Ruihuan Wang¹, Xueting Fan¹, Machao Li¹, Xiuqin Zhao¹, Xinyue He¹, Kanglin Wan¹, Haican Liu¹

Affiliation

¹ National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

Abstract

What is already known about this topic?: At present, relatively few theoretical studies exist on the immunization strategies of tuberculosis vaccines, especially regarding the types of subunit protein vaccines suitable for combined application with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

What is added by this report?: The study demonstrated that EPCP009, a novel subunit vaccine candidate, maintains BCG colonization in murine spleens while enhancing protection. Notably, a single dose of EPCP009 combined with BCG was superior to multiple doses in terms of both short-term (6-week) and long-term (12-week) protection.

What are the implications for public health practice?: These studies provide a theoretical basis for enhancing the immune strategy of tuberculosis vaccines and contribute to the development of combined BCG and subunit protein vaccines.

Keywords: BCG; Booster vaccine; EPCP009; Protein; Tuberculosis.