The first new vaccine against tuberculosis in more than 80 years has entered mid-stage trials in South Africa, where the killer disease is rife, scientists said yesterday.

If the tests are successful, a new shot against M. tuberculosis (TB) bacteria could be available within eight years.

The vaccine was developed by researchers at Oxford University, who are now studying it in Phase II studies in the Western Cape. The current standard vaccine for TB is Bacille Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, which provides some protection against severe forms of the disease in children but is unreliable against pulmonary TB, the most common type.

The vaccine's co-developer, Dr Helen McShane, and her colleagues received funding for their trials from the Wellcome Trust medical charity, which provides cash for research that is of potential benefit to public health but has not yet secured financing from commercial backers.