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Phase II Trials of TB vaccine MTBVAC

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Context

  • The Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved a proposal to conduct the phase II clinical trial of the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Live Attenuated) Vaccine.

About

  • MTBVAC is derived from a genetically modified form of the pathogen isolated from humans Mycobacterium tuberculosis which contains all the antigens present in strains that infect humans.
  • MTBVAC is being developed for two purposes;
  • As a more effective and potentially longer-lasting vaccine than BCG for newborn children, and
  • For the prevention of TB in adults and adolescents, for whom there is currently no effective vaccine.
  • The only vaccine in use today, BCG [Bacillus Calmette and Guérin], is an attenuated variant of the bovine TB pathogen.
  • It is more than a hundred years old and has a very limited effect on pulmonary tuberculosis.
What is Tuberculosis?

–       Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

–       It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or spit. – TB can manifest in two forms: Latent TB infection and active TB disease.

o   In latent TB infection, the bacteria are present in the body, but the immune system keeps them in check, and the person does not exhibit symptoms.

o   However, the bacteria can become active later, leading to active TB disease, which is characterized by symptoms such as persistent cough, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, and fever.

–       Symptoms: prolonged cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.

o   The symptoms people get depend on where in the body TB becomes active. While TB usually affects the lungs, it also affects the kidneys, brain, spine, and skin.

–       Treatment: Tuberculosis is preventable and curable.

o   Tuberculosis disease is treated with antibiotics.

o   TB Vaccine: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine remains the only licensed vaccine against TB; it provides moderate protection against severe forms of TB (TB meningitis) in infants and young children.