Immunobiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis: Lessons Learned and Implications for an Improved TB-Vaccine

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Children, especially neonates and young infants, are uniquely vulnerable to tuberculosis (TB) and frequently present with primary progressive pulmonary or disseminated disease. There is an urgent need to understand the unique immunobiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in young infants and to identify protective infant immune responses. The existing vaccine against TB, Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (M. bovis BCG), provides a partial protection against TB disease and disseminated forms of TB in infants; however, it is unknown how this partial protection is mediated. To end pediatric TB morbidity and mortality, a fully efficacious next-generation TB-vaccine is needed. Here, we focus on our current understanding of TB immunobiology as it pertains to young infants, and we evaluate what BCG-vaccination, as well as recently trialed novel TB-vaccines, has taught us about the immunobiology of mycobacterial infection in this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)113-121
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

Keywords

  • BCG
  • Immunity
  • Mtb
  • T cell
  • immune response
  • infant
  • pediatric
  • tuberculosis
  • vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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