# Protection of infant mice against pertussis, tuberculosis and influenza by co-administration of nasal pertussis vaccine candidate BPZE1 and BCG

## TL;DR

Researchers found that combining two vaccines, BPZE1 and BCG, protects infant mice against whooping cough, tuberculosis, and influenza without affecting each other's effectiveness.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that BPZE1 and BCG can be co-administered in infants, preserving their individual and combined protective effects.

## Key findings

- BPZE1 and BCG co-administration preserves immunogenicity and protective efficacy against Bordetella pertussis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- The combination of BPZE1 and BCG provides off-target protection against influenza in infant mice.
- BPZE1's off-target protection against influenza is independent of vaccination age, unlike BCG.

## Abstract

Protecting neonates at risk of serious pertussis disease or death represents a global emergency. BPZE1 is the most advanced, next-generation pertussis vaccine undergoing clinical evaluation in children and adults. We investigated the feasibility of co-administering BPZE1 and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the most widely used tuberculosis vaccine worldwide. We showed that BPZE1 can be co-administered with BCG without altering its immunogenicity and protective efficacy against B. pertussis in infant mice. Conversely, BCG immunogenicity and protective efficacy against M. tuberculosis are not affected by BPZE1. Both vaccines induce off-target protection against heterologous infections. In this study, we showed that BPZE1 and BCG alone or in combination induced high levels of protection against influenza challenge in infant mice. In contrast to BCG, the off-target properties of BPZE1 were independent of the age of vaccination. Vaccination with BPZE1 might be considered at the same time as BCG, facilitating its effective implementation in the childhood immunization schedule.

•Similar homologous protection is induced by co-administration of BPZE1 and BCG•BPZE1 protection against influenza virus is not affected by BCG co-vaccination•Unlike BCG, BPZE1’s off-target effects are independent of the age of vaccination

Similar homologous protection is induced by co-administration of BPZE1 and BCG

BPZE1 protection against influenza virus is not affected by BCG co-vaccination

Unlike BCG, BPZE1’s off-target effects are independent of the age of vaccination

Immunology; Preventive medicine; Disease