The TB vaccine H56+IC31 dose-response curve is peaked not saturating: Data generation for new mathematical modelling methods to inform vaccine dose decisions.
In vaccine development, dose-response curves are commonly assumed to be saturating. Evidence from tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, H56+IC31 shows this may be incorrect. Mathematical modelling techniques may be useful in efficiently identifying the most immunogenic dose, but model calibration requires longitudinal data across multiple doses and time points.



We aimed to (i) generate longitudinal response data in mice for a wide range of H56+IC31 doses for use in future mathematical modelling and (ii) test whether a 'saturating' or 'peaked' dose-response curve, better fit the empirical data.



We measured IFN-γ secretion using an ELISPOT assay in the splenocytes of mice who had received doses of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5 or 15μg H56+IC31. Mice were vaccinated twice (at day 0 and 15) and responses measured for each dose at 8 time points over a 56-day period following first vaccination. Summary measures Area Under the Curve (AUC), peak and day 56 responses were compared between dose groups. Corrected Akaike Information Criteria was used to test which dose-response curve best fitted empirical data, at different time ranges.



(i) All summary measures for dose groups 0.1 and 0.5μg were higher than the control group (p<0.05). The AUC was higher for 0.1 than 15μg dose. (ii) There was strong evidence that the dose-response curve was peaked for all time ranges, and the best dose is likely to be lower than previous empirical experiments have evaluated.



These results suggest that the highest, safe dose may not always optimal in terms of immunogenicity, as the dose-response curve may not saturate. Detailed longitudinal dose range data for TB vaccine H56+IC31 reveals response dynamics in mice that should now be used to identify optimal doses for humans using clinical data, using new data collection and mathematical modelling.
TB Modelling Group, CMMID, TB Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. Electronic address: sophie.rhodes@lshtm.ac.uk.
Sophie J
SJ
Rhodes
Immunology and Infection Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Andrea
A
Zelmer
TB Modelling Group, CMMID, TB Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance, Imperial College London, UK.
Gwenan M
GM
Knight
Immunology and Infection Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Satria Arief
SA
Prabowo
Immunology and Infection Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Lisa
L
Stockdale
TomegaVax, Portland, OR, United States.
Thomas G
TG
Evans
Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thomas
T
Lindenstrøm
TB Modelling Group, CMMID, TB Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Richard G
RG
White
Immunology and Infection Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Helen
H
Fletcher
D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D005260:Female; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D051379:Mice; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines