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Koneru G, Batiha GES, Algammal AM, Mabrok M, Magdy S, Sayed S, AbuElmagd ME, Elnemr R, Saad MM, Abd Ellah NH, Hosni A, Muhammad K, Hetta HF. BCG Vaccine-Induced Trained Immunity and COVID-19: Protective or Bystander? Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:1169-1184. [PMID: 33790587 PMCID: PMC8001200 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s300162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In late 2019, a new virulent coronavirus (CoV) emerged in Wuhan, China and was named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus spread rapidly, causing the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, associated with induction of non-specific cross-protection against unrelated infections. This protection is a memory-like response in innate immune cells (trained immunity), which is caused by epigenetic reprogramming via histone modification in the regulatory elements of specific genes in monocytes. COVID-19 related epidemiological studies showed an inverse relationship between national BCG vaccination policies and COVID-19 incidence and death, suggesting that BCG may induce trained immunity that could confer some protection against SARS-CoV-2. As this pandemic has put most of Earth's population under quarantine, repurposing of the old, well-characterized BCG may ensure some protection against COVID-19. This review focuses on BCG-related cross-protection and acquisition of trained immunity, as well as the correlation between BCG vaccination and COVID-19 incidence and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopala Koneru
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutger New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicines, Damanhour University, Damanhur, 22511, Egypt
| | - Abdelazeem M Algammal
- Department of Bacteriology, Immunology, and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Mabrok
- Department of Fish Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
- Fish Infectious Diseases Research Unit (FID RU), Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Sara Magdy
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Shrouk Sayed
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Mai E AbuElmagd
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Reham Elnemr
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Saad
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Noura H Abd Ellah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
| | - Amal Hosni
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Khalid Muhammad
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Helal F Hetta
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
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Abstract
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been globally used to protect infants against tuberculosis (TB) for about a century. This vaccine has been shown to provide some degree of non-specific protection from other respiratory tract infections. This advantage has encouraged researchers to investigate the potential protection of this vaccine from the coronavirus disease 2019 from different perspectives in the ongoing pandemic. In this study, we have comprehensively reviewed the latest articles on potential vaccine effectiveness of BCG on COVID-19 and summarized the possible impacts of the BCG against SARS-COV-2 in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Bagheri
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hesam Montazeri
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Beric-Stojsic B, Kalabalik-Hoganson J, Rizzolo D, Roy S. Childhood Immunization and COVID-19: An Early Narrative Review. Front Public Health 2020; 8:587007. [PMID: 33194993 PMCID: PMC7655788 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.587007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into arguably the largest global public health crisis in recent history—especially in the absence of a safe and effective vaccine or an effective anti-viral treatment. As reported, the virus seems to less commonly infect children and causing less severe symptoms among infected children. This narrative review provides an inclusive view of scientific hypotheses, logical derivation, and early analyses that substantiate or refute such conjectures. At the completion of a relatively less restrictive search of this evolving topic, 13 articles—all published in 2020, were included in this early narrative review. Directional themes arising from the identified literature imply the potential relationship between childhood vaccination and COVID-19—either based on the potential genomic and immunological protective effects of heterologous immunity, or based on observational associations of cross-immunity among vaccines and other prior endemic diseases. Our review suggests that immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in children is different than in adults, resulting in differences in the levels of severity of symptoms and outcomes of the disease in different age groups. Further clinical investigations are warranted of at least three childhood vaccines: BCG, MMR, and HEP-A for their potential protective role against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojana Beric-Stojsic
- MPH Program, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, United States
| | - Julie Kalabalik-Hoganson
- MPH Program, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, United States
| | - Denise Rizzolo
- MPH Program, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, United States
| | - Sanjoy Roy
- MPH Program, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, United States
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Flanagan KL, Best E, Crawford NW, Giles M, Koirala A, Macartney K, Russell F, Teh BW, Wen SCH. Progress and Pitfalls in the Quest for Effective SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccines. Front Immunol 2020; 11:579250. [PMID: 33123165 PMCID: PMC7566192 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.579250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There are currently around 200 SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccines in preclinical and clinical trials throughout the world. The various candidates employ a range of vaccine strategies including some novel approaches. Currently, the goal is to prove that they are safe and immunogenic in humans (phase 1/2 studies) with several now advancing into phase 2 and 3 trials to demonstrate efficacy and gather comprehensive data on safety. It is highly likely that many vaccines will be shown to stimulate antibody and T cell responses in healthy individuals and have an acceptable safety profile, but the key will be to confirm that they protect against COVID-19. There is much hope that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be rolled out to the entire world to contain the pandemic and avert its most damaging impacts. However, in all likelihood this will initially require a targeted approach toward key vulnerable groups. Collaborative efforts are underway to ensure manufacturing can occur at the unprecedented scale and speed required to immunize billions of people. Ensuring deployment also occurs equitably across the globe will be critical. Careful evaluation and ongoing surveillance for safety will be required to address theoretical concerns regarding immune enhancement seen in previous contexts. Herein, we review the current knowledge about the immune response to this novel virus as it pertains to the design of effective and safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and the range of novel and established approaches to vaccine development being taken. We provide details of some of the frontrunner vaccines and discuss potential issues including adverse effects, scale-up and delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L. Flanagan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, TAS, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Emma Best
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nigel W. Crawford
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital Immunisation Service, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Giles
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Archana Koirala
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance (NCIRS), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nepean Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristine Macartney
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance (NCIRS), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Fiona Russell
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital Immunisation Service, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin W. Teh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sophie CH Wen
- Infection Management Prevention Services, Queensland Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Ferreira C, Viana SD, Reis F. Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis-Immune Hyperresponse-Inflammation Triad in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact of Pharmacological and Nutraceutical Approaches. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1514. [PMID: 33019592 PMCID: PMC7601735 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic infection caused by a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients present a complex clinical picture that, in severe cases, evolves to respiratory, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and neurological complications, and eventually death. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are complex and multifactorial and have been summarized as a hyperresponse of the immune system that originates an inflammatory/cytokine storm. In elderly patients, particularly in those with pre-existing cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and pulmonary disorders, the disease is particularly severe, causing prolonged hospitalization at intensive care units (ICU) and an increased mortality rate. Curiously, the same populations have been described as more prone to a gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis profile. Intestinal microflora plays a major role in many metabolic and immune functions of the host, including to educate and strengthen the immune system to fight infections, namely of viral origin. Notably, recent studies suggest the existence of GM dysbiosis in COVID-19 patients. This review article highlights the interplay between the triad GM dysbiosis-immune hyperresponse-inflammation in the individual resilience/fragility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and presents the putative impact of pharmacological and nutraceutical approaches on the triumvirate, with focus on GM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Ferreira
- Institute of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sofia D. Viana
- Institute of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, ESTESC-Coimbra Health School, Pharmacy, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Flávio Reis
- Institute of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
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