Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and potential cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection — Assumptions, knowns, unknowns and need for developing an accurate scientific evidence base

Jean B. Nachega; Markus Maeurer; Nadia A. Sam-Agudu; Jeremiah Chakaya; Patrick D.M. Katoto; Alimuddin Zumla

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.060

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and potential cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection — Assumptions, knowns, unknowns and need for developing an accurate scientific evidence base

Jean B. Nachega, Markus Maeurer, Nadia A. Sam-Agudu, Jeremiah Chakaya, Patrick D.M. Katoto, Alimuddin Zumla

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

After a century of controversies on its usefulness in protection against TB, underlying mechanisms of action, and benefits in various groups and geographical areas, the BCG vaccine is yet again a focus of global attention- this time due to the global COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recent studies have shown that human CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells primed with a BCG-derived peptide developed high reactivity to its corresponding SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide. Furthermore, BCG vaccine has been shown to substantially increase interferon-gamma (IFN-g) production and its effects on CD4+ T-cells and these non-specific immune responses through adjuvant effect could be harnessed as cross protection against severe forms of COVID-19.The completion of ongoing BGG trials is important as they may shed light on the mechanisms underlying BCG-mediated immunity and could lead to improved efficacy, increased tolerance of treatment, and identification of other ways of combining BCG with other immunotherapies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	S78-S81
Journal	International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume	113
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.060
State	Published - Dec 2021
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Dr. Sam-Agudu is a clinician-scientist and implementation researcher in pediatric infectious diseases. She is supported by NIH/ National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant R01HD089866 , and by an NIH/FIC award through the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) , for the Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA) . Dr. P.D.M.C Katoto is supported by Pitt-HRTP-SA and is a CAWISA Fellow.

Funding Information:
Dr. Nachega is an infectious disease internist and epidemiologist supported by the NIH/ Fogarty International Center (FIC) grant numbers 1R25TW011217-01 (African Association for Health Professions Education and Research); 1D43TW010937-01A1 (the University of Pittsburgh HIV-Comorbidities Research Training Program in South Africa?Pitt-HRTP-SA); and 1R21TW011706-01 (Cardiometabolic Outcomes, Mechanisms, and approach to prevention of Dolutegravir Associated Weight Gain in South Africa). He serves on the scientific program committee of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and is a senior fellow alumnus of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).Dr. Sam-Agudu is a clinician-scientist and implementation researcher in pediatric infectious diseases. She is supported by NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant R01HD089866, and by an NIH/FIC award through the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA), for the Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA). Dr. P.D.M.C Katoto is supported by Pitt-HRTP-SA and is a CAWISA Fellow.Professor Sir Ali Zumla acknowledges support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) Programme, Horizon 2020, the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, grants PANDORA-ID-NET, TESA-2 and CANTAM-2. Sir Zumla is in receipt of a National Institutes of Health Research senior investigator award and is a Mahathir Science Award Laureate.

Funding Information:
Dr. Nachega is an infectious disease internist and epidemiologist supported by the NIH / Fogarty International Center (FIC) grant numbers 1R25TW011217-01 ( African Association for Health Professions Education and Research ); 1D43TW010937-01A1 ( the University of Pittsburgh HIV-Comorbidities Research Training Program in South Africa—Pitt-HRTP-SA ); and 1R21TW011706-01 (Cardiometabolic Outcomes, Mechanisms, and approach to prevention of Dolutegravir Associated Weight Gain in South Africa). He serves on the scientific program committee of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and is a senior fellow alumnus of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).

Funding Information:
Professor Sir Ali Zumla acknowledges support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) Programme, Horizon 2020 , the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation , grants PANDORA-ID-NET, TESA-2 and CANTAM-2. Sir Zumla is in receipt of a National Institutes of Health Research senior investigator award and is a Mahathir Science Award Laureate.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors

Keywords

BCG
COVID-19
Immunity
Protection
SARS-CoV-2
Tuberculosis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Publisher link

10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.060

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Nachega, J. B., Maeurer, M., Sam-Agudu, N. A., Chakaya, J., Katoto, P. D. M., & Zumla, A. (2021). Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and potential cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection — Assumptions, knowns, unknowns and need for developing an accurate scientific evidence base. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 113, S78-S81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.060

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and potential cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection — Assumptions, knowns, unknowns and need for developing an accurate scientific evidence base. / Nachega, Jean B.; Maeurer, Markus; Sam-Agudu, Nadia A. et al.
In: International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 113, 12.2021, p. S78-S81.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Nachega, JB, Maeurer, M, Sam-Agudu, NA, Chakaya, J, Katoto, PDM & Zumla, A 2021, 'Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and potential cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection — Assumptions, knowns, unknowns and need for developing an accurate scientific evidence base', International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 113, pp. S78-S81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.060

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abstract = "After a century of controversies on its usefulness in protection against TB, underlying mechanisms of action, and benefits in various groups and geographical areas, the BCG vaccine is yet again a focus of global attention- this time due to the global COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recent studies have shown that human CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells primed with a BCG-derived peptide developed high reactivity to its corresponding SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide. Furthermore, BCG vaccine has been shown to substantially increase interferon-gamma (IFN-g) production and its effects on CD4+ T-cells and these non-specific immune responses through adjuvant effect could be harnessed as cross protection against severe forms of COVID-19.The completion of ongoing BGG trials is important as they may shed light on the mechanisms underlying BCG-mediated immunity and could lead to improved efficacy, increased tolerance of treatment, and identification of other ways of combining BCG with other immunotherapies.",

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note = "Funding Information: Dr. Sam-Agudu is a clinician-scientist and implementation researcher in pediatric infectious diseases. She is supported by NIH/ National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant R01HD089866 , and by an NIH/FIC award through the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) , for the Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA) . Dr. P.D.M.C Katoto is supported by Pitt-HRTP-SA and is a CAWISA Fellow. Funding Information: Dr. Nachega is an infectious disease internist and epidemiologist supported by the NIH/ Fogarty International Center (FIC) grant numbers 1R25TW011217-01 (African Association for Health Professions Education and Research); 1D43TW010937-01A1 (the University of Pittsburgh HIV-Comorbidities Research Training Program in South Africa?Pitt-HRTP-SA); and 1R21TW011706-01 (Cardiometabolic Outcomes, Mechanisms, and approach to prevention of Dolutegravir Associated Weight Gain in South Africa). He serves on the scientific program committee of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and is a senior fellow alumnus of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).Dr. Sam-Agudu is a clinician-scientist and implementation researcher in pediatric infectious diseases. She is supported by NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant R01HD089866, and by an NIH/FIC award through the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA), for the Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA). Dr. P.D.M.C Katoto is supported by Pitt-HRTP-SA and is a CAWISA Fellow.Professor Sir Ali Zumla acknowledges support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) Programme, Horizon 2020, the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, grants PANDORA-ID-NET, TESA-2 and CANTAM-2. Sir Zumla is in receipt of a National Institutes of Health Research senior investigator award and is a Mahathir Science Award Laureate. Funding Information: Dr. Nachega is an infectious disease internist and epidemiologist supported by the NIH / Fogarty International Center (FIC) grant numbers 1R25TW011217-01 ( African Association for Health Professions Education and Research ); 1D43TW010937-01A1 ( the University of Pittsburgh HIV-Comorbidities Research Training Program in South Africa—Pitt-HRTP-SA ); and 1R21TW011706-01 (Cardiometabolic Outcomes, Mechanisms, and approach to prevention of Dolutegravir Associated Weight Gain in South Africa). He serves on the scientific program committee of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and is a senior fellow alumnus of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP). Funding Information: Professor Sir Ali Zumla acknowledges support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) Programme, Horizon 2020 , the European Union{\textquoteright}s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation , grants PANDORA-ID-NET, TESA-2 and CANTAM-2. Sir Zumla is in receipt of a National Institutes of Health Research senior investigator award and is a Mahathir Science Award Laureate. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",

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Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and potential cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection — Assumptions, knowns, unknowns and need for developing an accurate scientific evidence base

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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