Pre-clinical development of BCG.HIVA(CAT) strain, an antibiotic-free selection strain for HIV-TB pediatric vaccine

Background Our starting platform was based on a heterologous BCG prime and MVA boost regimen delivering a common immunogen called HIVA. In this study, we have i) developed a BCG.HIVA strain containing an antibiotic free selection system (Cobra); ii) evaluated the specific HIV-1 immune responses induced after newborn BALB/c mice immunization with BCG.HIVA prime and MVA.HIVA.85A boost; iii) evaluated the specificTB immune responses induced after newborn BALB/c mice immunization with BCG.HIVA prime and MVA.HIVA.85A boost and iv) evaluated the influence of age on specific HIV-1 immune responses using the same vaccination schedule.