BCG vaccination strategies against tuberculosis: updates and perspectives

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Dec 2;17(12):5284-5295. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.2007711. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Abstract

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only licensed vaccine against tuberculosis (TB). However, BCG has variable efficacy and cannot completely prevent TB infection and transmission. Therefore, the worldwide prevalence of TB calls for urgent development of a more effective TB vaccine. In the absence of other approved vaccines, it is also necessary to improve the efficacy of BCG itself. Intravenous (IV) BCG administration and BCG revaccination strategies have recently shown promising results for clinical usage. Therefore, it is necessary for us to revisit the BCG vaccination strategies and summarize the current research updates related to BCG vaccination. This literature review provides an updated overview and perspectives of the immunization strategies against TB using BCG, which may inspire the following research on TB vaccine development.

Keywords: BCG; BCG revaccination; tuberculosis; vaccine routes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Mycobacterium bovis*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis*
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines*
  • Tuberculosis* / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis* / prevention & control
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines

Grants and funding

This research was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China to Hao Li (No. 32070937), 2015 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University to Hao Li (No. 00109029) and National Natural Science Foundation of China to Xiangmei Zhou (No.31873005).