Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) Vaccination use in the Fight Against COVID-19 – What's Old is New Again?

O'Connor, Ellen; Teh, Jiasian; Kamat, Ashish M.; Lawrentschuk, Nathan

doi:10.2217/fon-2020-0381

Cited by 25 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…It is derived from a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis . At present, three new clinical trials have been registered to evaluate the protective role of BCG vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 ( 363 ). Recently, a cohort study was conducted to evaluate the impact of childhood BCG vaccination in COVID-19 PCR positivity rates.…”

Section: Vaccines Therapeutics and Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coronavirus Disease 2019–COVID-19

et al. 2020

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SUMMARY In recent decades, several new diseases have emerged in different geographical areas, with pathogens including Ebola virus, Zika virus, Nipah virus, and coronaviruses (CoVs). Recently, a new type of viral infection emerged in Wuhan City, China, and initial genomic sequencing data of this virus do not match with previously sequenced CoVs, suggesting a novel CoV strain (2019-nCoV), which has now been termed severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is suspected to originate from an animal host (zoonotic origin) followed by human-to-human transmission, the possibility of other routes should not be ruled out. Compared to diseases caused by previously known human CoVs, COVID-19 shows less severe pathogenesis but higher transmission competence, as is evident from the continuously increasing number of confirmed cases globally. Compared to other emerging viruses, such as Ebola virus, avian H7N9, SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2 has shown relatively low pathogenicity and moderate transmissibility. Codon usage studies suggest that this novel virus has been transferred from an animal source, such as bats. Early diagnosis by real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing has facilitated the identification of the pathogen at an early stage. Since no antiviral drug or vaccine exists to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2, potential therapeutic strategies that are currently being evaluated predominantly stem from previous experience with treating SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and other emerging viral diseases. In this review, we address epidemiological, diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects, including perspectives of vaccines and preventive measures that have already been globally recommended to counter this pandemic virus.

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Section: Vaccines Therapeutics and Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coronavirus Disease 2019–COVID-19

et al. 2020

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“…Toward this end, it is reported that three clinical trials, with an aim to confirm the role of BCG vaccine in protection against COVID-19, have been intiated. 52,53,63,80 The clinical trial planned by Max Plank Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin include the use of genetically modified version of BCG while other two trails have been planned in Australia and Netherland. However, some group also suggest that COVID-19 vaccination should include multiple-doses of BCG vaccine.…”

Section: Bcg Vaccine Based Alternative Treatment Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

BCG vaccine: a hope to control COVID-19 pandemic amid crisis

Malik

Ansari

Ganesh

et al. 2020

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

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COVID-19 caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2 has gripped essentially all countries in the world, and has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Several innovative approaches are in development to restrain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In particular, BCG, a vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), is being considered as an alternative therapeutic modality. BCG vaccine is known to induce both humoral and adaptive immunities, thereby activating both nonspecific and cross-reactive immune responses in the host, which combined could effectively resist other pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. Notably, some studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, case positivity, and mortality rate have been higher in countries that have not adopted BCG vaccination than in countries that have done so. This review presents an overview of the concepts underlying BCG vaccination and its nonspecific immuological effects and protection, resulting in 'trained immunity' and potential utility for resisting COVID-19.

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“…Firstly, BCG vaccination was shown to confer long-term changes to the innate immunity dubbed "trained immunity" and has been known to be protective against several viruses such as Vaccinia, Influenza A, Herpes Simplex Virus 2 and respiratory syncytial virus via macrophage-dependent epigenetic changes . [105][106][107][108] The heterologous immunomodulatory effect of BCG on nonrelated conditions provide a promising avenue for investigation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, countries with a BCG vaccination policy experienced a reduction in both COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide as exemplified by several epidemiological studies in the European hotspot with inadequate or no BCG coverage .…”

Section: Overview Of Ongoing Vaccine Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, being observational studies, these data should be interpreted with caution and should be considered only as hypothesis due to the significant differences in collecting data relating to COVID-19 between countries . 108 The WHO reported about 149 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in its updated continuously list, however, Le et al 110 projected the number to be more as there are some not listed by the WHO. Of these, some vaccine candidates have proceeded into clinical trials, while others are in various stages of animal testing and will be planning to enter clinical trials (Table 3).…”

Section: Overview Of Ongoing Vaccine Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging on the genomics and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 for vaccines development: prospects and challenges

Abdullahi

Emeribe

Adekola

et al. 2020

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

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The incidence and case-fatality rates (CFRs) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the etiological agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been rising unabated. Even though the entire world has been implementing infection prevention and control measures, the pandemic continues to spread. It has been widely accepted that preventive vaccination strategies are the public health measures for countering this pandemic. This study critically reviews the latest scientific advancement in genomics, replication pattern, pathogenesis, and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and how these concepts could be used in the development of vaccines. We also offer a detailed discussion on the anticipated potency, efficacy, safety, and pharmaco-economic issues that are and will be associated with candidate COVID-19 vaccines.

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Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) Vaccination use in the Fight Against COVID-19 – What's Old is New Again?

Cited by 25 publications

References 10 publications

Coronavirus Disease 2019–COVID-19

Coronavirus Disease 2019–COVID-19

BCG vaccine: a hope to control COVID-19 pandemic amid crisis

Leveraging on the genomics and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 for vaccines development: prospects and challenges

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