Blood transcriptome following intravenous BCG vaccination in rhesus macaques

To determine the blood transcriptional response to intravenous (IV) BCG vaccination in rhesus macaques and identify correlates of vaccine-mediated protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) challenge. Thirty-four rhesus macaques of Indian origin were vaccinated with half-log increasing doses of IV BCG (between 3.9x10e4 and 2.5x10e7 CFU) and challenged with Mtb twenty-four weeks later. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on whole blood samples collected at baseline (four weeks pre-vaccination) and at two days, two weeks, four weeks, and twelve weeks following IV BCG vaccination. All timepoints were prior to Mtb challenge.