Targeting tuberculosis with LNP-mRNA vaccines: opportunities, challenges and future directions
Hannah Lukeman A B # , Elizabeth Chan A B # and James Triccas A B *A
B
Hannah Lukeman is a third year PhD candidate at The University of Sydney. She is researching the mechanisms and efficacy of next-generation vaccine platforms against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. |
Elizabeth Chan is undertaking her PhD candidature at The University of Sydney. Her research focuses on characterising next-generation vaccine platforms, such as mRNA and protein in adjuvant vaccines and comparing their immune mechanisms to explore their application in protecting against lung pathogens. |
James Triccas is a professor of medical microbiology and the deputy director of the Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases (Sydney ID) at The University of Sydney. His research uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand immunity to medically important lung pathogens and develop new treatments to control infection, with a long-standing focus on tuberculosis and more recently COVID-19. |
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease mortality, despite widespread use of the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the potential of mRNA vaccines to induce rapid and robust immunity, leading to interest in their application against TB. However, developing an effective mRNA vaccine for TB presents unique challenges, including the need for strong cellular immune responses and lung-targeted immunity. This review explores the potential of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA vaccines to generate protective immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We discuss recent advances in the field, including promising preclinical studies, and highlight key knowledge gaps that must be addressed before mRNA vaccines can be considered a viable option for TB control.
Keywords: cellular immunity, lipid nanoparticle, mRNA vaccine, mucosal immunity, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, preclinical studies, TB, tuberculosis, vaccination.
Hannah Lukeman is a third year PhD candidate at The University of Sydney. She is researching the mechanisms and efficacy of next-generation vaccine platforms against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. |
Elizabeth Chan is undertaking her PhD candidature at The University of Sydney. Her research focuses on characterising next-generation vaccine platforms, such as mRNA and protein in adjuvant vaccines and comparing their immune mechanisms to explore their application in protecting against lung pathogens. |
James Triccas is a professor of medical microbiology and the deputy director of the Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases (Sydney ID) at The University of Sydney. His research uses a multidisciplinary approach to understand immunity to medically important lung pathogens and develop new treatments to control infection, with a long-standing focus on tuberculosis and more recently COVID-19. |
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