A newer, safer BCG vaccine for tuberculosis
A Novel Hyper-Immunogenic Low Virulent BCG vaccine against Tuberculosis
A modified BCG vaccine designed to be safer and give stronger protection against tuberculosis for children and adults at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburg, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11415944 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are modifying the existing BCG vaccine by removing three bacterial genes that help it hide from immune cells. They will create the triple-knockout BCG strain (BCG-TKO) and test it in laboratory and animal studies to see whether immune cells process it better and produce stronger responses. The team will measure immune signaling, antigen presentation, and protection in animal models to compare the new strain with standard BCG. If laboratory and animal results are promising, this work could move toward future human vaccine trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: If the vaccine reaches human testing, people at risk for TB — including children and adults in areas with high TB rates — would be the likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with severely weakened immune systems (for example advanced HIV/AIDS or those on strong immunosuppression) may not be able to receive or benefit from a live BCG-based vaccine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a safer, more effective BCG vaccine that provides longer-lasting protection against pulmonary tuberculosis.
How similar studies have performed: Other recombinant BCG approaches have shown improved immune responses in animal studies, but this specific triple-gene deletion strategy is novel and not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Edinburg, United States
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — Edinburg, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dhandayuthapani, Subramanian — University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Study coordinator: Dhandayuthapani, Subramanian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.