The need for fast-track, high-quality and low-cost studies about the role of the BCG vaccine in the fight against COVID-19

Pereira, Marcos; Paixão, Enny S.; Trajman, Anete; Souza, Ramon Andrade de; Natividade, Márcio Santos da; Pescarini, Júlia Moreira; Pereira, Susan Martins; Barreto, Florisneide Rodrigues; Ximenes, Ricardo Arraes de Alencar; Dalcomo, Margareth; Ichihara, Maria Yury; Nunes, Ceuci de Lima Xavier; Barral‐Netto, Manoel; Barreto, Maurício L.

doi:10.1186/s12931-020-01439-4

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…The vaccine enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-6 [ 21 ]. However, the role of BCG against COVID-19 remains unclear and requires further experiments and clinical trials [ 22 ]. A cohort study found no difference in SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among BCG-vaccinated versus unvaccinated adults [ 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Common childhood vaccines do not elicit a cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2

et al. 2020

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Anecdotal evidence showed a negative correlation between Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination and incidence of COVID-19. Incidence of the disease in children is much lower than in adults. It is hypothesized that BCG and other childhood vaccinations may provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection through trained or adaptive immune responses. Here, we tested whether BCG, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae, Hepatitis B, Meningococcal, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccines provide cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in BALB/c mice. Results indicated that none of these vaccines provided antibodies capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 up to seven weeks post vaccination. We conclude that if such vaccines have any role in COVID-19 immunity, this role is not antibody-mediated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Common childhood vaccines do not elicit a cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2

et al. 2020

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“…BCG vaccine has a very safe track record in comparison to other vaccines. Several studies in countries with a rigorous BCG vaccination program have shown a significant correlation between BCG vaccination and decreasing COVID‐19 morbidity and mortality 22–24,70–73 . A recent retrospective cohort study confirmed that BCG vaccination is safe, not associated with hyperinflammation and may reduce sickness or extreme fatigue in COVID‐19 patients 73 .…”

Section: Recent Findings On the Use Of The Trained Immunity‐based Vacmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 incidence and mortality rate is lower in countries where the BCG vaccine is a part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. [22][23][24] The non-specific cross-protection against unrelated diseases is not limited to BCG and have also been described for other vaccines such as influenza.…”

Section: Pathology and Immunology Of Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies in countries with a rigorous BCG vaccination program have shown a significant correlation between BCG vaccination and decreasing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. [22][23][24][70][71][72][73] A recent retrospective cohort study confirmed that BCG vaccination is safe, not associated with hyperinflammation and may reduce sickness or extreme fatigue in COVID-19 patients. 73 Routine infant BCG vaccination showed a significant impact on the prevention of local COVID-19 spread among the young generation in Japan.…”

Section: Recent Findings On the Use Of The Trained Immunity-based Vacmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current knowledge about COVID‐19 is very limited and whether long‐term protection can be achieved post‐coronavirus exposure is not yet clear. Recent studies have suggested that COVID‐19 incidence and mortality rate is lower in countries where the BCG vaccine is a part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule 22–24 . The non‐specific cross‐protection against unrelated diseases is not limited to BCG and have also been described for other vaccines such as influenza.…”

Section: Pathology and Immunology Of Covid‐19mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trained immunity as a novel approach against COVID‐19 with a focus on Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine: mechanisms, challenges and perspectives

et al. 2020

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COVID‐19 is a severe health problem in many countries and has altered day‐to‐day life in the whole world. This infection is caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, and depending on age, sex and health status of the patient, it can present with variety of clinical symptoms such as mild infection, a very severe form or even asymptomatic course of the disease. Similarly to other viruses, innate immune response plays a vital role in protection against COVID‐19. However, dysregulation of innate immunity could have a significant influence on the severity of the disease. Despite various efforts, there is no effective vaccine against the disease so far. Recent data have demonstrated that the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine could reduce disease severity and the burden of several infectious diseases in addition to targeting its primary focus tuberculosis. There is growing evidence for the concept of beneficial non‐specific boosting of immune responses by BCG or other microbial compounds termed trained immunity, which may protect against COVID‐19. In this manuscript, we review data on how the development of innate immune memory due to microbial compounds specifically BCG can result in protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. We also discuss possible mechanisms, challenges and perspectives of using innate immunity as an approach to reduce COVID‐19 severity.

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Repurposing of the childhood vaccines: could we train the immune system against the SARS-CoV-2

Sharma

2021

Expert Review of Vaccines

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Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is a globalized health concern caused by a beta-coronavirus named Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since December 2019, when this outbreak flared in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 cases have been continuously rising all over the world. Due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants, subsequent waves are flowing in a faster manner as compared to the primary wave, which is more contagious and causing higher mortality. Recently, India has emerged as the new epicenter of the second wave by mutants of SARS-CoV-2. After almost eighteen months of this outbreak, some COVID-19 dedicated therapeutics and vaccines are available, and a few are under trial, but the situation is still uncontrolled. Area covered This perspective article covers the repurposing of childhood vaccines like Bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG), Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), which are live attenuated vaccines and have been shown the protective effect through ‘trained immunity and ‘crossreactivity.' Expert opinion This perspective article has suggested that combinatorial use of these childhood vaccines might exert a better protective effect along with the available COVID-19 therapeutic and vaccines which could be considered as a preventive option against SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as its subsequent waves.

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The need for fast-track, high-quality and low-cost studies about the role of the BCG vaccine in the fight against COVID-19

Cited by 12 publications

References 11 publications

Common childhood vaccines do not elicit a cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2

Common childhood vaccines do not elicit a cross-reactive antibody response against SARS-CoV-2

Trained immunity as a novel approach against COVID‐19 with a focus on Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine: mechanisms, challenges and perspectives

Repurposing of the childhood vaccines: could we train the immune system against the SARS-CoV-2

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