Preclinical study of TB vaccine development using viral vector and mRNA

Prof. Nawamin discusses on the preclinical development of tuberculosis vaccines using Viral vector and mRNA platforms, inspired by the success of mixed COVID-19 vaccine regimens to enhance immune responses. The team identified promising TB antigens through immune stimulation and mass spectrometry, with some, like IrA, showing strong immunogenicity in mice. They tested different antigen combinations and sequences using in silico modeling to optimize T cell and TH1 responses before moving to animal studies, aiming to boost both antibody and cellular immunity. The ultimate goal is to combine BCG priming with Viral vector and mRNA boosters to improve protection against TB.