Recombinant AhpC antigen from Mycobacterium bovis boosts BCG-primed immunity in mice

. Vaccine antigen AhpC was formulated with Montanide ISA 61 VG, an oil-based emulsion adjuvant. Both IgG and IL-12 responses were observed in mice after administering the formulation both as a subunit vaccine alone and also as a booster vaccine for BCG immunization. However, a long-lasting response was observed when AhpC formulation was used as a booster (for BCG-primed immunization) as compared to being used as a subunit vaccine alone. In short, these findings suggested that AhpC has the potential to be used as a booster vaccine candidate for BCG-primed immunization.