Boosting BCG-primed responses with a subunit Apa vaccine during the waning phase improves immunity and imparts protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Sci Rep. 2016 May 13:6:25837. doi: 10.1038/srep25837.

Abstract

Heterologous prime-boosting has emerged as a powerful vaccination approach against tuberculosis. However, optimal timing to boost BCG-immunity using subunit vaccines remains unclear in clinical trials. Here, we followed the adhesin Apa-specific T-cell responses in BCG-primed mice and investigated its BCG-booster potential. The Apa-specific T-cell response peaked 32-52 weeks after parenteral or mucosal BCG-priming but waned significantly by 78 weeks. A subunit-Apa-boost during the contraction-phase of BCG-response had a greater effect on the magnitude and functional quality of specific cellular and humoral responses compared to a boost at the peak of BCG-response. The cellular response increased following mucosal BCG-prime-Apa-subunit-boost strategy compared to Apa-subunit-prime-BCG-boost approach. However, parenteral BCG-prime-Apa-subunit-boost by a homologous route was the most effective strategy in-terms of enhancing specific T-cell responses during waning in the lung and spleen. Two Apa-boosters markedly improved waning BCG-immunity and significantly reduced Mycobacterium tuberculosis burdens post-challenge. Our results highlight the challenges of optimization of prime-boost regimens in mice where BCG drives persistent immune-activation and suggest that boosting with a heterologous vaccine may be ideal once the specific persisting effector responses are contracted. Our results have important implications for design of prime-boost regimens against tuberculosis in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / drug effects
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Immunity* / drug effects
  • Immunity, Mucosal / drug effects
  • Immunization, Secondary*
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Kinetics
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology*

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • BCG Vaccine
  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Vaccines, Subunit