Researchers Develop New DNA Vaccine for Tuberculosis

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University, particularly from Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health, have developed a groundbreaking experimental DNA vaccine for tuberculosis that is administered nasally. This innovative approach has demonstrated remarkable results in research conducted on mice, where the vaccine has been effective in rapidly destroying the bacteria responsible for this perilous disease, as well as preventing the return of the infection following treatment.

According to reports from SciTechDaily, which thoroughly covers the research findings, the vaccine comprises two genes that train the immune system to recognize bacteria capable of surviving antibiotic treatment, leading to a recurrence of the disease. Tuberculosis, known to humanity for at least 6,000 years, continues to pose a serious threat to public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about one-quarter of the world's population, approximately 2 billion people, harbor a latent infection without symptoms. In 2024, more than 10 million people fell ill with active tuberculosis, and 1.2 million died from the disease.

The WHO emphasizes the urgent need for therapeutic vaccines that can be used alongside medications to shorten treatment duration and enhance its effectiveness. Currently, tuberculosis therapy often requires prolonged use of multiple drugs, which presents a complex challenge for patients, while drug-resistant strains continue to spread.

According to the lead researcher, Stilianí Karanikí, the vaccine, in combination with standard therapy, helped infected mice to eliminate bacteria more quickly, reduced lung inflammation, and prevented relapse after treatment was completed. It also enhanced the efficacy of a combination of drugs including bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid, which may be beneficial against resistant forms of tuberculosis.

This new vaccine combines the genes relMtb and Mip3α. The first gene aids bacteria in surviving harsh conditions, including exposure to antibiotics, while its combination with the second gene creates a signal that attracts immune cells, which then 'show' the pathogen to other cells and initiate a targeted attack on the infection.

The vaccine is administered through the nose, allowing it to act directly in the respiratory tract where the infection develops. This method promotes the formation of long-lasting local immunity in the lungs and a broader immune response throughout the body.

In studies conducted on rhesus macaques, the vaccine elicited a notable immune response in both the blood and respiratory tract, lasting for at least six months. However, these experiments only assessed the immune response and not the protection against the infection itself, which represents an important next step in the research.

Researchers note that additional studies are required before initiating clinical trials involving human participants. Karanikí stated that the results observed in primates are promising, as their immune system is closer to that of humans, allowing for a transition from mouse experiments to further stages of testing.

The scientists believe that their findings support an approach that involves using immunotherapy against bacteria that survive treatment, rather than relying solely on antibiotics. DNA vaccines are relatively stable and can be produced quickly, making this approach potentially practical if successful.

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