A zebrafish model for the evaluation of nanoparticle-based vaccines against mycobacterial infection

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the biggest global health problems, with one third of the human population infected and app. 2 million associateddeaths per year. To date, the only available vaccine (Bacille Calmette Guérin; BCG) provides limited and inconsistentprotection against pulmonary infection with M. tuberculosis. Here, we report a novel approach that aims to develop oral vaccination approaches comprising the encapsulation ofmycobacterial antigens or whole-cell mycobacteria in biodegradable nano-/microparticles (NP) [1]. Using the closelyrelated pathogen of fish tuberculosis (Mycobacterium marinum) [2], allowed us to investigate both the course of infection and the uptake and trans-epithelial transport of NPs via the intestinal epithelium of zebrafish in vivo