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

Meijgaarden, K.E. van; Li, W.C.; Moorlag, S.J.C.F.M.; Koeken, V.A.C.M.; Koenen, H.J.P.M.; Joosten, L.A.B.; ... ; Joosten, S.A. (2024)

Article / Letter to editor

Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin - vaccination induces not only protection in infants and young children against severe forms of tuberculosis, but also against nontuberculosis 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.

• All authors: Meijgaarden, K.E. van; Li, W.C.; Moorlag, S.J.C.F.M.; Koeken, V.A.C.M.; Koenen, H.J.P.M.; Joosten, L.A.B.; Vyakarnam, A.; Ahmed, A.; Rakshit, S.; Adiga, V.; Ottenhoff, T.H.M.; Li, Y.; Netea, M.G.; Joosten, S.A.
• Date: 2024-01-02
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 1
• DOI: doi:10.1038/s41467-023-44252-5