A NOVEL lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mRNA vaccine has demonstrated strong immune responses and enhanced protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the leading cause of infectious mortality worldwide. The vaccine, mRNACV2, showed significant promise in preclinical trials, particularly when used as a booster for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only licensed tuberculosis (TB) vaccine.
In a recent study, researchers administered mRNACV2 intramuscularly to mice, either as a standalone vaccine or in combination with BCG. The results revealed that the LNP-mRNA vaccine induced a high frequency of polyfunctional, antigen-specific Th1 CD4+ T cells, an essential component of protective immunity against TB. This immune activation correlated with rapid recruitment of both innate and adaptive immune cells to lymph nodes near the injection site.
Further, mRNACV2 vaccination provided significant pulmonary protection in M. tuberculosis-infected mice, reducing bacterial load and limiting inflammatory lung infiltration. Mice primed with BCG and later boosted with mRNACV2 exhibited enhanced immune responses and prolonged protection compared to those that received BCG alone.
These findings highlight the potential of LNP-mRNA technology to improve TB vaccination strategies, addressing the limitations of BCG’s waning efficacy over time. Given the success of mRNA vaccines in combating viral infections, this study underscores the need for further research to explore their application in chronic bacterial diseases like tuberculosis.
Reference: Lukeman H et al. An LNP-mRNA vaccine modulates innate cell trafficking and promotes polyfunctional Th1 CD4+ T cell responses to enhance BCG-induced protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. EBioMedicine. 2025;113:105599.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
