Effects of Interleukin-12 in the Long-term Protection Conferred by a Mycobacterium avium Subunit Vaccine . FRONTLINES

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Abstract
The effects of the addition of recombinant interleukin (IL)‐12 to a mycobacterial subunit vaccine were analyzed in terms of the longevity of the protective immunity generated. BALB/c mice were immunized with culture filtrate proteins from Mycobacterium avium with dimethyl‐dioctadecilammonium bromide (DDA) as an adjuvant. This subunit vaccine induced protection against a challenge by M. avium which lasted for at least 6 months while waning with time until 1 year postvaccination. Whereas the addition of IL‐12 enhanced the initial protective efficacy of this subunit vaccine during the first 6 months, it accelerated the loss of protective efficacy observed at 1 year postvaccination. These data confirm the adjuvant properties of IL‐12 in vaccines against mycobacteria and raise the possibility of late counter‐protective untoward effects.