Immune Response to Oral BCG Vaccination
Author Information
Author(s): Renata Monteiro-Maia, Maria B Ortigão-de-Sampaio, Rosa T Pinho, Luiz RR Castello-Branco
Primary Institution: Centro de Pesquisas Arlindo de Assis, Fundação Ataulpho de Paiva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hypothesis
What are the immunological responses after oral vaccination with M. bovis BCG Moreau RDJ?
Conclusion
All subjects were capable of mounting humoral and cellular immune responses to the antigens tested, regardless of their initial skin test response.
Supporting Evidence
- Oral immunisation has no adverse effects.
- All subjects displayed a peak humoral immune response observed by the detection of IgG.
- Subjects who received more than one dose of oral vaccine showed an altered humoral immune response with antibodies of isotype IgA.
- All subjects showed a lymphoproliferative response to PPD Rt48.
- The peak production of IFN-γ varied among subjects, indicating different immune responses.
Takeaway
The study shows that people can still have a strong immune response to a tuberculosis vaccine taken by mouth, even if they didn't react to a skin test.
Methodology
The study measured cellular and humoral immune responses in healthy volunteers after oral vaccination with M. bovis BCG Moreau RDJ.
Potential Biases
Contact with tuberculosis patients among subjects could have influenced immune response results.
Limitations
The study had a small number of subjects for the immune response kinetic study and potential biases due to prior exposure to tuberculosis.
Participant Demographics
Healthy adults aged 18-50 years with no history of pulmonary illness or tuberculosis.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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