Dose-Finding Study of the Novel Tuberculosis Vaccine, MVA85A, in Healthy, BCG Vaccinated Infants
Abstract
Background.鈥傿CG, the only licensed tuberculosis vaccine, affords poor protection against lung tuberculosis in infants and children. A new tuberculosis vaccine, which may enhance the BCG-induced immune response, is urgently needed. The study assessed the safety of and characterized the T cell response induced by 3 doses of the candidate vaccine, MVA85A, in BCG-vaccinated infants from a setting where tuberculosis is endemic.
Methods.鈥僆nfants aged 5鈥�12 months were vaccinated intradermally with either 2.5 脳 107, 5 脳 107, or 10 脳 107 plaque-forming units of MVA85A, or placebo. Adverse events were documented, and T-cell responses were assessed by interferon 纬 (IFN-纬) enzyme-linked immunospot assay and intracellular cytokine staining.
Results.鈥僒he 3 MVA85A doses were well tolerated, and no vaccine-related serious adverse events were recorded. MVA85A induced potent, durable T-cell responses, which exceeded prevaccination responses up to 168 d after vaccination. No dose-related differences in response magnitude were observed. Multiple CD4 T cell subsets were induced; polyfunctional CD4 T cells co-expressing T-helper cell 1 cytokines with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor predominated. IFN-纬-expressing CD8 T cells, which peaked later than CD4 T cells, were also detectable.
Conclusions.鈥僊VA85A was safe and induced robust, polyfunctional, durable CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses in infants. These data support efficacy evaluation of MVA85A to prevent tuberculosis in infancy.
Clinical Trials Registration.鈥僋CT00679159.
Citation
Scriba, T.J.; Tameris, M.; Mansoor, N; Smit, E.; van der Merwe, L.; Mauff, K.; Hughes, E.J.; Moyo, S.; Brittain, N.; Lawrie, A.; Mulenga, H.; de Kock, M.; Gelderbloem, S.; Veldsman, A.; Hatherill, M.; Geldenhuys, H.; Hill, A.V.S.; Hussey, G.D.; Mahomed, H.; Hanekom, W.; McShane, H. Dose-Finding Study of the Novel Tuberculosis Vaccine, MVA85A, in Healthy BCG-Vaccinated Infants. Journal of Infectious Diseases (2011) 203 (12) 1832-1843. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir195]