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Leprosy Vaccine
The Challenge
Although curable, current leprosy programs are focused on detection and treatment—not on prevention. The most common vaccine strategy has been to immunize individuals with M. bovis BCG. The presence of a BCG scar has been recognized as a protective factor for leprosy. However, the degree of protection against leprosy afforded by BCG vaccination has varied dramatically: 26% in experimental studies versus 61% in observational studies. Similar to tuberculosis, the protection afforded by BCG vaccination against leprosy is highest in younger individuals and wanes over time.
Our Solution
As the major focus of our leprosy program, we are developing a defined subunit vaccine to provide long-term protection for those who are most at risk.
Publications
Sampaio LH, Stefani MM, Oliveira RM, Sousa AL, Ireton GC, Reed SG, Duthie MS. 2011. Immunologically reactive M. leprae antigens with relevance to diagnosis and vaccine development. BMC Infect Dis 11: 26
Raman VS, O'Donnell J, Bailor HR, Goto W, Lahiri R, Gillis TP, Reed SG, Duthie MS. 2009. Vaccination with the ML0276 antigen reduces local inflammation but not bacterial burden during experimental Mycobacterium leprae infection. Infect Immun 77: 5623-30
Duthie MS, Goto W, Ireton GC, Reece ST, Sampaio LH, Grassi AB, Sousa AL, Martelli CM, Stefani MM, Reed SG. 2008. Antigen-specific T-cell responses of leprosy patients. Clin Vaccine Immunol 15: 1659-65
Key Scientist
Malcolm Duthie
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