Researchers in north Queensland are on the verge of a significant breakthrough in the fight against tuberculosis (TB). Under the leadership of Dr. Andreas Kupz, the team works on an exciting journey. They’re working on a revolutionary new approach to administering the tuberculosis vaccine directly into the lungs. Their innovative approach would dramatically increase protection against TB. TB is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and remains one of the greatest global health challenges.
The only licensed vaccine for TB—the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine—was developed in 1921. Over the decades, its effectiveness has always been woefully inadequate. Dr. Kupz notes that the high global rates of TB can be partly attributed to the inadequacies of this vaccine. There remains a great deal to understand about the factors underlying vaccine failure to protect adolescents. This technology knowledge gap can leave young people vulnerable.
Vaccination Challenges and Regional Impact
With the 1921 vaccine, critically high hurdles remain in areas like Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands. These communities are having a much harder time with the widespread return of TB. Dr. Kupz wants to underscore that these areas are particularly at-risk. This is compounded by their geographical proximity to Papua New Guinea, a known TB and DR-TB hotspot.
Dr Kupz said for Cairns Hospital, the number is a big influx of TB cases that are being treated. Most of these patients have been flown in from neighbouring Papua New Guinea or the Torres Strait Islands. His research guided by these challenges and ultimately improve long-term protection against respiratory infections that make up the burden of TB.
Anne Clarke, a local health advocate, highlighted the urgency of the situation: “The exposure of the wider community to this infectious disease agent is about 100 percent in this town.” This highlights the vital importance of building successful vaccination strategies among vulnerable populations.
New Delivery Method Promises Enhanced Efficacy
Dr. Kupz and his team have discovered that delivering the TB vaccine directly to the lungs could create stronger immunity compared to traditional injection methods. He explained, “This link between how the body repairs the lung after minor injury and how that can lead to better protection against tuberculosis is really what this study is about.”
Our research results may have important implications for designing a more optimal TB vaccine. The current approach – which requires injection postnatally – frequently does not elicit long-lived immunity to respiratory infection. Because of this, this new regimens might very well be the key to winning the fight against TB once and for all.
The multidisciplinary research team expects to begin human trials using this novel AAV delivery route by late 2026 or early 2027. Soon to come are the projects that get their ethical approvals. Dr. Kupz was hopeful that their research would contribute to more effective protection against TB infections around the world.
