James Cook University scientists have moved one big step closer to developing a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, after three short-listed vaccines have been selected to move to the next phase of a global vaccine tournament.
JCU group leader, Associate Professor Andreas Kupz, said the research team produced a new TB vaccine contender – one of six candidates world-wide that took part in the first phase of a head-to-head vaccine tournament, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
"TB claimed 1.6 million lives globally in 2021 and drug-resistant strains are increasing. The current TB vaccine, BCG, was introduced in 1921 and is still universally used in many parts of the world to prevent TB in children.
"But protection wanes in adolescence and leaves adults vulnerable to contracting the disease and transmitting it to others. There is a pressing need to develop a new vaccine that provides greater immunity," said Dr Kupz.
In phase one of the contest, five different research institutions produced six vaccine contenders which were extensively tested and whittled down to three. In phase two these three will be tested against each other on new criteria.
"The three shortlisted vaccines will now be evaluated for their effectiveness against hypervirulent isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in different genetic backgrounds and for the long-term durability of their protection," said Dr Kupz.
Additionally, he said the JCU TB Vaccinology Group has also already undertaken considerable research into the use of nasal and oral methods (similar to nasal sprays and asthma puffers) for vaccine delivery.
"The technology to deliver reliable standard doses of intranasal TB vaccine is still in the pipeline, but it's the way forward. There would definitely be easier uptake and it would be great to avoid the pain of vaccinating babies with a needle," said Dr Kupz.
He said it would be nice if the JCU vaccine outperformed others from around the world.
"But at the end of the day if this tournament leads to one potential vaccine, from anywhere, that could replace BCG in the future, that would be a fabulous achievement."
