# PROTEIN AND ZINC DEFICIENCY AND VACCINE EFFICACY

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR · 1987 · $137,911

## Abstract

We have demonstrated that moderate dietary deficiencies of
protein and zinc are accompanied by alterations of cell-mediated
and humoral immune responses in Mycobacterium bovis BCG-
vaccinated outbred guinea pigs.  The ability of BCG vaccine to
protect guinea pigs against respiratory challenge with virulent M.
tuberculosis is abolished in protein-deficient animals.  Our long-
range objective is to elucidate the cellular and molecular
mechanisms by which malnutrition interferes with BCG vaccine
efficacy.  This knowledge is critical to the use of BCG vaccine as
the only practical means of controlling tuberculosis throughout
the world.  We have adapted our model of respiratory tuberculosis
to inbred guinea pigs (Strain 2) to allow passive transfer and co-
culture of lymphoid cells between syngeneic animals.  A number
of hypotheses will be tested to explain diet-mediated loss of BCG
vaccine protection, including helper and suppressor T cell subsets,
the number, distribution and lymphokine-producing capability of
purified T cells from malnourished guinea pigs, and production of
interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) by alveolar
macrophages and T cells, respectively.  We will utilize specific
markers for guinea pig T lymphocytes (rabbit erythrocyte rosette
formation; monoclonal pan-T cell antibodies) to enumerate and
separate T cells by flow cytometry.  Reconstitution of
malnourished, immunosuppressed guinea pigs by adoptive transfer
purified syngeneic T cells and/or IL-2 will help to pinpoint the
specific immunologic lesion(s) induced by protein- and zinc-
deficient diets.  This information will help to devise approaches to
the use of BCG vaccine in malnourished populations which will
insure maximum protection against tuberculosis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126207
- **Project number:** 2R01AI015495-07A2
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HFT7XTHB6563
- **Principal Investigator:** David N. McMurray
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $137,911
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1982-09-30 → 1990-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126207

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126207, PROTEIN AND ZINC DEFICIENCY AND VACCINE EFFICACY (2R01AI015495-07A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126207. Licensed CC0.

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