A human challenge model for Mycobacterium tuberculosis using Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guerin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is currently no safe human challenge model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to enable proof-of-concept efficacy evaluation of candidate vaccines against tuberculosis. In vivo antimycobacterial immunity could be assessed using intradermal Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination as a surrogate for M. tuberculosis infection.

Methods

Healthy BCG-naive and BCG-vaccinated volunteers were challenged with intradermal BCG. BCG load was quantified from skin biopsy specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture colony-forming units. Cellular infiltrate was isolated by suction blisters and examined by flow cytometry. Prechallenge immune readouts were correlated with BCG load after challenge.

Results

In BCG-naive volunteers,

SUBMITTER: Minassian AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3295601 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature