Concurrent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis confers robust protection against secondary infection in macaques

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007305
• Publication Date: 2018-10-12T17:36:57Z
• Authors: Anthony M. Cadena; Forrest F. Hopkins; Pauline Maiello; Allison F. Carey; Eileen A. Wong; Constance J. Martin; Hannah P. Gideon; Robert M. DiFazio; Peter Andersen; Philana Ling Lin; Sarah M. Fortune; JoAnne L. Flynn
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; QH301-705.5; Coinfection; Vaccination; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pneumonia; RC581-607; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Macaca; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Biology (General); Tuberculosis Vaccines; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Research Article

For many pathogens, including most targets of effective vaccines, infection elicits an immune response that confers significant protection against reinfection. There has been debate as to whether natural Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) Here we experimentally assessed the conferred by concurrent Mtb in macaques, a robust experimental model human (TB), using combination serial imaging and challenge strains differentiated DNA identifiers. Strikingly, ongoing provided complete establishment secondary over half macaques allowed near sterilizing bacterial control for those which was established. By contrast, boosted BCG vaccination reduced granuloma inflammation but had no impact on early burden. These findings are evidence highly concomitant mycobacterial immunity lung, may inform TB vaccine design development.