Epidemiological transcriptomic data supports BCG protection in viral diseases including COVID-19

Sharma, Abhay

doi:10.1016/j.gene.2021.145574

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Nouvo et al demonstrated homology between SARS-CoV-2 and M. bovis proteins and proposed that they could be used to develop more efficient diagnostic techniques and explorations aimed at the induction of protective immunity [33]. The latter issue was addressed in a transcriptomic study published by Sharma [34], as well as an in silico analysis developed by Tomita et al [35]. Based on our findings and previous reports, it is possible to hypothesize that increased concentrations of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ could be involved in the synergistic effect, a phenomenon that could be heterologous or caused by homology between both pathogens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of BCG Revaccination on Occupationally Exposed Medical Personnel Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Ramos-Martı́nez

Falfán-Valencia

Pérez-Rubio

et al. 2021

Cells

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The production of specific neutralizing antibodies by individuals is thought to be the best option for reducing the number of patients with severe COVID-19, which is the reason why multiple vaccines are currently being administered worldwide. We aimed to explore the effect of revaccination with BCG, on the response to a subsequent anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, in persons occupationally exposed to COVID-19 patients. Two groups of 30 randomized participants were selected: one group received a BCG revaccination, and the other group received a placebo. Subsequently, both groups were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. After each round of vaccination, the serum concentration of Th1/Th2 cytokines was determined. At the end of the protocol, neutralizing antibodies were determined and the HLA-DRB loci were genotyped. The participants from the BCG group and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine group had increased serum cytokine concentrations (i.e., IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-18, GM-CSF, INF-γ, and TNF-α) and higher neutralizing antibody titers, compared to the group with Placebo–anti-SARS-CoV-2. Twelve HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified in the Placebo–anti-SARS-CoV-2 group, and only nine in the group revaccinated with BCG. The DRB1*04 allele exhibited increased frequency in the Placebo–anti-SARS-CoV-2 group; however, no confounding effects were found with this allele. We conclude that revaccination with BCG synergizes with subsequent vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in occupationally exposed personnel.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of BCG Revaccination on Occupationally Exposed Medical Personnel Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Ramos-Martı́nez

Falfán-Valencia

Pérez-Rubio

et al. 2021

Cells

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Despite the above caveats, recent data suggest the concept of BCG-induced immunity merits further prospective investigation [39]. While it seems unlikely that childhood receipt of BCG vaccine influences COVID-19 cases or outcomes in adults, given the impact of BCG on trained immunity, the effect of more recent vaccination in adults is worth considering and is the subject of multiple ongoing clinical trials in diverse settings (Table 1).…”

Section: Bcg Trained Immunity and Clinical Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the BCG Vaccine an Answer to Future Pandemic Preparedness?

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While the development of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines was rapid, time to development and implementation challenges remain that may impact the response to future pandemics. Trained immunity via bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination (an antigen agnostic strategy) offers a potential intervention against future novel pathogens via an existing, safe, and widely distributed vaccine to protect vulnerable populations and preserve health system capacity while targeted vaccines are developed and implemented.

show abstract

“…At present, transcriptomic data provides evidence for the potential of BCG vaccination to fight COVID-19 and that it can induce long-term changes in the blood immune cell transcriptome that partially mimic and partly oppose transcriptomic changes induced by viral respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 [ 119 ]. Upregulation of viral defense genes is observed.…”

Section: Bcg and Covid-19: A Strategy To Reduce The Public Health Burden Of Epidemic Respiratory Disease?mentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and Beyond: Exploring Public Health Benefits from Non-Specific Effects of BCG Vaccination

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination, widely used throughout the world to protect against infant tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis (TB), can provide broad non-specific protection against infectious respiratory diseases in certain groups. Interest in BCG has seen a resurgence within the scientific community as the mechanisms for non-specific protection have begun to be elucidated. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nearly every aspect of society has profoundly illustrated the pressure that respiratory infections can place on a national healthcare system, further renewing interest in BCG vaccination as a public health policy to reduce the burden of those illnesses. However, the United States does not recommend BCG vaccination due to its variable effectiveness against adult TB, the relatively low risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in most of the United States, and the vaccine’s interference with tuberculin skin test reactivity that complicates TB screening. In this review, we explore the broad immune training effects of BCG vaccination and literature on the effects of BCG vaccination on COVID-19 spread, disease severity, and mortality. We further discuss barriers to scheduled BCG vaccination in the United States and how those barriers could potentially be overcome.

show abstract

Epidemiological transcriptomic data supports BCG protection in viral diseases including COVID-19

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Effect of BCG Revaccination on Occupationally Exposed Medical Personnel Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Effect of BCG Revaccination on Occupationally Exposed Medical Personnel Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Is the BCG Vaccine an Answer to Future Pandemic Preparedness?

COVID-19 and Beyond: Exploring Public Health Benefits from Non-Specific Effects of BCG Vaccination

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About