Effective vaccination against tuberculosis—a new ray of hope

Glutamate mediated metabolic neutralization mitigates propionate toxicity in intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis

“…Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only approved TB vaccine, was developed from virulent Mycobacterium bovis by consecutive subculture for 12 years on nutrient enriched media, during which the mother M . bovis strain lost its virulence due to an inadequately-defined manufacturing process 12 . Consequently, BCG uses the host imposed carbon substrates inefficiently and fails to manage its intracellular lifestyle within host environments.…”

Syntheses and anti‐tubercular activity of β‐substituted and α,β‐disubstituted peptidyl β‐aminoboronates and boronic acids

“…It was not until the late 19th century that M. tuberculosis was identified by Robert Koch as causing TB . Soon after, vaccines were developed but it is not clear if vaccination is effective in adults . It was only from the early 1940s that the first efficacious drug, streptomycin, was introduced and over the next 20 years, other drugs, some of which are still in use today, were developed, for example, isoniazid, pyrazanamide, ethambutol, and rifampicin (rifampin) .…”

Long-term survival and outcome of patients originally givenMycobacterium vaccaefor metastatic malignant melanoma

“…In an attempt to improve on this, a heat killed variant of M. vaccae was selected as, in addition to enhancing the cell mediated (Th-1) immune responses that protect against tuberculosis, it is able to suppress inappropriate and detrimental responses associated with a humoral (Th-2)response. 1 BCG has been studied as a potential immunostimulant to treat cancer for several decades, albeit with variable results. It is, however, licensed for intra-vesicular administration for the treatment of bladder cancer, M. vaccae was considered a good substitute for BCG and initially offered to cancer patients with limited options, on an informed consent basis as an intradermal vaccine, prior to the instigation of formal trials., These confirmed that the intradermal administration of M. vaccae on a two weekly, then monthly basis, was capable of reversing the suppression of Th-1-mediated beneficial immune responses, as has been shown to occur in melanoma and prostate cancer.…”