Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology, which rose to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, is now being repurposed by South African scientists to tackle one of the world’s oldest infectious diseases—tuberculosis.
At the Wits Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU), Dr Kristie Bloom leads efforts to develop a locally produced mRNA-based TB vaccine. Unlike traditional vaccines, which rely on weakened viruses, mRNA vaccines deliver genetic instructions that prompt the body to produce a harmless piece of the virus, training the immune system to respond.
This technology offers speed, adaptability, and potentially stronger immune responses. "We can manufacture mRNA vaccines rapidly and adjust them easily if pathogens mutate or emerge," says Bloom.
In collaboration with the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) at the University of Cape Town, AGTRU is advancing two TB vaccine candidates. These vaccines aim to trigger the T-cell responses needed to overcome Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a pathogen responsible for 56,000 deaths in South Africa in 2023 alone.
Researchers believe that a successful vaccine could prevent up to 76 million TB cases and save 8.5 million lives over 25 years. “This isn’t just about innovation—it’s about self-reliance and equity in global health,” Bloom says.
