Development of novel tuberculosis vaccines

Efficacious control of tuberculosis (TB), one of the world's major health threats, is best achieved by a combination of chemotherapy and vaccination. The current vaccine, BCG, fails to prevent pulmonary TB in adults, which is the most prevalent form of this disease. Consequently, the design of novel vaccines against TB is urgently required. Because the acquired immune response is mediated by different T-cell sets, an optimal combination of these populations must be stimulated. As one third of the world's population is already infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, two types of vaccine may be required: one for eradication of already established infection and the other for prompt combat of invading microbes. A rational judgement on the efficacy of the different types of vaccine currently under development needs to await further evaluation.