Human T Cell Antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

描述（由申请人提供）：我们已经根据人类T细胞反应和动物保护确定了几种新的结核病疫苗候选抗原。优先考虑那些既能引起PPD阳性健康供体PBMC的Th1反应，又能在啮齿动物模型中起到保护作用的药物。已经开发了几种动物模型来评估疫苗效力，目前正用于进一步表征候选疫苗和佐剂/递送系统。我们建议通过在临床和地理上不同的人群中进行广泛的测试，使用最先进的免疫学分析来扩大候选疫苗抗原的评估。本节将提供有关在受不同分离物感染的遗传多样性群体中抗原保存的重要信息。这些研究也将为确定保护的关键免疫学相关因素奠定基础。同时，我们将在啮齿动物模型中使用优先抗原和疫苗配方进行免疫原性研究。我们还将详细分析在AS02A中接种mt72f的人类志愿者的免疫反应，AS02A是第一个进入临床试验的结核疫苗。最后，我们将在啮齿动物感染和疾病模型中测试抗原/疫苗配方。到筹资期结束时，我们将确定第二种进入临床试验的候选疫苗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We have identified several new TB vaccine candidate antigens based on human T cell responses and animal protection. Priority has been given to those that both elicit a Th1 response from PBMC from PPD positive healthy donors and protect in rodent models. Several animal models have been developed to evaluate vaccine efficacy and are currently being used to further characterize vaccine candidates and adjuvant/delivery systems. We propose to expand the evaluation of candidate vaccine antigens through extensive testing in clinically and geographically diverse populations, using state of the art immunological assays. This section will provide important information on conservation of antigens in genetically diverse populations infected with diverse isolates. These studies will also lay the foundation for definition of key immunological correlates of protection. In parallel, we will perform immunogenicity studies using priority antigens and vaccine formulations in rodent models. We will also perform detailed analysis of the immune responses of human volunteers immunized with Mtb72f in AS02A, the first defined TB vaccine to enter clinical trials. Finally, we will test antigens/vaccine formulations in rodent models of infection and disease. By the end of the funding period, we will have defined a second vaccine candidate for entry into clinical trials.