We have previously reported that during mycobacterial infection, naïve CD4(+) T-cell activation is enhanced in the lungs. We investigated the role of chemokine receptor CCR7 and its ligands in the ability of CD11c(+) lung dendritic cells (DCs) to activate naïve CD4(+) T cells during pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). BCG infection resulted in the accumu...

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death in AIDS patients, yet the current tuberculosis vaccine, Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is contraindicated for immunocompromised individuals, including human immunodeficiency virus-positive persons, because it can cause disseminated disease; moreover, its efficacy is suboptimal. To address these problems, we have engineered BCG muta...

Two billion people worldwide are estimated to be latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and are at risk for developing active tuberculosis since Mtb can reactivate to cause TB disease in immune-compromised hosts. Individuals with latent Mtb infection (LTBI) and BCG-vaccinated individuals who are uninfected with Mtb, harbor antigen-specific memory CD4(+) T cells. However, the di...

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation is broadly used to prevent bladder cancer recurrence or to treat carcinoma in situ. BCG infection is rare but can cause serious problems because this strain has intrinsic resistance to pyrazinamide, a first-line anti-tuberculosis drug. Furthermore, there had been no specific and easy procedure accurately diagnosing BCG infection. In this ...

Background: Although the efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine in the prevention of tuberculosis has been noted consistently, the use of BCG vaccine is not without risk. In this study we aimed to evaluate immunologically, children with complication of BCG vaccination in North of Iran.Materials and Methods: This case-control study began in 30 Jan 2013 and was completed in 2 Jul 2015...

Rare cases of tuberculous urinary tract or genital infection caused by intravesical Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation therapy have been reported. We encountered a patient with tuberculous granuloma in the scrotal skin after intravesical BCG therapy for bladder cancer. There was evidence of infection in the scrotal skin, but not in the epididymis. To the best of our knowle...

With a view to exploring the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) during mycobacterial infection, recombinant clones of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) were engineered to express the natural antagonist of TGF-beta, latency-activated peptide (LAP). Induction of TGF-beta activity was reduced when macrophages were infected with BCG expressing the LAP construct (LAP-BCG). There was a s...

Stimulation with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been reported to enhance resistance of mice against Leishmania donovani infection. Such infection is usually lethal in hamsters, thus providing a more stringent animal model to assess the effect of BCG upon visceral leishmaniasis. Animals receive two IP injections (2-8 X 10(7) BCG) pre or post IC challenge with 4 X 10(6) amastigotes. C...

The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine since its first use in 1921 has been the subject of much controversy as to its effectiveness and applicability. BCG vaccination is still considered an important strategy in the National Tuberculosis Programs of countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) because of its benefit to infants but its effect on the control of TB has been limited. By con...

The toxicity of intrapleural Tice strain Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection was tested in hamsters. Doses above 10(6) colony-forming units caused significant systemic infection, which could be controlled with conventional antituberculosis therapy. Living BCG in the pleural space did not prevent the healing of bronchial or vascular closures after pulmonary resection. Prophylactic intrapleu...