Post-exposure vaccination with the vaccine candidate Bacillus Calmette-Guerin ΔureC::hly induces superior protection in a mouse model of subclinical tuberculosis

The tuberculosis vaccine BCG Delta ureC::hly is the most advanced BCG replacement candidate in phase II clinical development. Here we assess the protective capacity of the construct administered to mice as homologous prime-boost vaccine prior Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and as post-exposure vaccine. Multiple immunization did not improve the superior protection of BCG Delta ureC::hly over BCG. Animals with sub-clinical tuberculosis were better protected when vaccinated with BCG Delta ureC::hly as compared to BCG. Our findings suggest further consideration of BCG Delta ureC::hly as post-exposure vaccine. (C) 2016 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.