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Is systemic dissemination of BCG following neonatal vaccination required for protection against M. tuberculosis?

The Journal of infectious diseases

Authors: Tobias R Kollmann, Nelly Amenyogbe, Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer, Ole Bæk, James Campbell, David J Lynn, Anita J Campbell, Peter Aaby, Christine Stabell Benn, Mihai G Netea, Maziar Divangahi

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and is the leading cause of death. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only licensed TB vaccine. Preclinical studies have shown that in adults intravenous administration of BCG improves protection against TB. We hypothesize that intradermal administration of BCG to the human newborn leads to low grade BCG bacteraemia and that this systemic dissemination improves protection against Mtb infection. This hypothesis is based on supporting observations including animal and human studies. It is a testable hypothesis and offers to deliver immediately actionable insight to advance the global efforts against TB.

© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

PMID: 39913242

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