Off-target effects of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2: implications for protection against severe COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Because of its beneficial off-target effects against non-mycobacterial infectious diseases, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination might be an accessible early intervention to boost protection against novel pathogens. Multiple epidemiological studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are investigating the protective effect of BCG against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Using samples from participants in a placebo-controlled RCT aiming to determine whether BCG vaccination reduces the incidence and severity of COVID-19, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of BCG on in vitro immune responses to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

This study used peripheral blood taken from participants in the multicentre RCT and BCG vaccination to reduce

SUBMITTER: Messina NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9028103 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature