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BCG vaccination-induced acquired control of mycobacterial growth differs from growth control preexisting to BCG vaccination.

Nature communications

Authors: Krista E van Meijgaarden, Wenchao Li, Simone J C F M Moorlag, Valerie A C M Koeken, Hans J P M Koenen, Leo A B Joosten, Annapurna Vyakarnam, Asma Ahmed, Srabanti Rakshit, Vasista Adiga, Tom H M Ottenhoff, Yang Li, Mihai G Netea, Simone A Joosten

Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin - vaccination induces not only protection in infants and young children against severe forms of tuberculosis, but also against non-tuberculosis related all-cause mortality. To delineate different factors influencing mycobacterial growth control, here we first investigate the effects of BCG-vaccination in healthy Dutch adults. About a quarter of individuals already control BCG-growth prior to vaccination, whereas a quarter of the vaccinees acquires the capacity to control BCG upon vaccination. This leaves half of the population incapable to control BCG-growth. Single cell RNA sequencing identifies multiple processes associated with mycobacterial growth control. These data suggest (i) that already controllers employ different mechanisms to control BCG-growth than acquired controllers, and (ii) that half of the individuals fail to develop measurable growth control irrespective of BCG-vaccination. These results shed important new light on the variable immune responses to mycobacteria in humans and may impact on improved vaccination against tuberculosis and other diseases.

© 2024. The Author(s).

PMID: 38167829

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