Consultation on the characterization of BCG strains

Overview

The meeting was opened by Dr U. Fruth (Initiative for Vaccine Research, BAC ; WHO, Geneva). Dr E. Griffiths (Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada) and Dr M. J. Corbel (NIBSC, Potters Bar, UK) were appointed Chairman and Rapporteur respectively. Dr Fruth stated that a key objective of the meeting was to facilitate the implementation of new vaccines against tuberculosis. It was clear that BCG would continue to play an important role in immunization against tuberculosis and would be included in forthcoming clinical trials, either as a primer to be boosted by new components or as an integral component of new vaccines. In this context it was important to consider the molecular characterization of BCG in the light of new knowledge. This had been strongly recommended by the TB Vaccines Working Group of the Global Partnership to Stop TB. This initiative would be implemented by the WHO Quality Assurance and Safety of Biologicals Unit (QSB).