Protective Immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induced by Dendritic Cells Pulsed with both CD8 + - and CD4 + -T-Cell Epitopes from Antigen 85A

Abstract

ABSTRACT Immunization with DNA followed by modified vaccinia virus Ankara strain, both expressing the antigen 85A, induced both CD4 + - and CD8 + -T-cell responses in BALB/c mice. Following challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis , this prime-boost regimen produced protection equivalent to that conferred by Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Following immunization with dendritic cells pulsed with an antigen 85A CD4 + - or CD8 + -restricted epitope, alone or in combination, copresentation of both epitopes on the same dendritic cell was required for protection, demonstrating that induced CD8 + T cells can play a protective role against tuberculosis.