title: Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence: insights and impact on vaccine development.
abstract: The existing TB vaccine, the attenuated Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG, is effective in protecting infants from severe forms of the disease, while its efficacy in protecting adults from pulmonary TB is poor. In the last two decades, a renewed interest in TB resulted in the development of several candidate vaccines that are now entering clinical trials. However, most of these vaccines are based on a common rationale and aim to induce a strong T-cell response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent advancements in the understanding of M. tuberculosis virulence determinants and associated pathogenic strategies are opening a new and broader view of the complex interaction between this remarkable pathogen and the human host, providing insights at molecular level that could lead to a new rationale for the design of novel antitubercular vaccines. A vaccination strategy that simultaneously targets different steps in TB pathogenesis may result in improved protection and reduced TB transmission.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Aristide Gabelli 63, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Provvedi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Aristide Gabelli 63, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manganelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000382:microbiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014611:Vaccination; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: BCG; immunity; infectious diseases; pathogenicity; tuberculosis; vaccine; virulence