Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pawel Zapolnik, Wojciech Kmiecik, Artur Mazur, Hanna Czajka
Summary: The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, in use for over 100 years, offers protection against severe, blood-borne forms of tuberculosis and enhances immunity against other diseases. This phenomenon, called trained immunity, is the result of increased response by non-specific immune cells upon repeated contact with a pathogen. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms behind trained immunity and its potential application in managing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, while also addressing the challenges faced by the scientific community in this field.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Gurpreet Kaur, Sanpreet Singh, Sidhanta Nanda, Mohammad Adeel Zafar, Jonaid Ahmad Malik, Mohammad Umar Arshi, Taruna Lamba, Javed Naim Agrewala
Summary: The BCG vaccine, used against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is known to induce non-specific heterologous immunity and may have a role in protecting against COVID-19. However, the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19 remains uncertain.
Article
Immunology
Claudio Counoupas, Matt D. Johansen, Alberto O. Stella, Duc H. Nguyen, Angela L. Ferguson, Anupriya Aggarwal, Nayan D. Bhattacharyya, Alice Grey, Owen Hutchings, Karishma Patel, Rezwan Siddiquee, Erica L. Stewart, Carl G. Feng, Nicole G. Hansbro, Umaimainthan Palendira, Megan C. Steain, Bernadette M. Saunders, Jason K. K. Low, Joel P. Mackay, Anthony D. Kelleher, Warwick J. Britton, Stuart G. Turville, Philip M. Hansbro, James A. Triccas
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of a BCG-based vaccine to provide protection against major SARS-CoV-2 variants by inducing potent virus-specific immune responses. Pre-treatment with BCG:CoVac followed by a heterologous vaccine boosts SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses effectively neutralizing key variants.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jiayu Wen, Quanxian Liu, Daoyan Tang, Jian-Qing He
Summary: Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials, the effectiveness of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination in preventing COVID-19 infection and severe disease is inconclusive. The rates of infection, hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality did not differ significantly between the BCG vaccination group and the control group. Current evidence does not support the use of BCG vaccination for COVID-19 prevention.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kathryn Macrae, Catherine Yuqing Gong, Prameet Sheth, Jorge Martinez-Cajas, Yanping Gong
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the antibody responses post three doses of COVID-19 vaccination in the Canadian population. The results showed that most vaccines were effective in producing robust antibody responses, and the more doses were given, the higher the serological response. However, a significant number of participants had lower antibody levels compared to the average levels prior to breakthrough infections, indicating the need for additional vaccination to ensure immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
Article
Immunology
Maria Tsilika, Esther Taks, Konstantinos Dolianitis, Antigone Kotsaki, Konstantinos Leventogiannis, Christina Damoulari, Maria Kostoula, Maria Paneta, Georgios Adamis, Ilias Papanikolaou, Kimon Stamatelopoulos, Amalia Bolanou, Konstantinos Katsaros, Christina Delavinia, Ioannis Perdios, Aggeliki Pandi, Konstantinos Tsiakos, Nektarios Proios, Emmanouela Kalogianni, Ioannis Delis, Efstathios Skliros, Karolina Akinosoglou, Aggeliki Perdikouli, Garyfallia Poulakou, Haralampos Milionis, Eva Athanassopoulou, Eleftheria Kalpaki, Leda Efstratiou, Varvara Perraki, Antonios Papadopoulos, Mihai G. Netea, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis
Summary: A recent study shows that Bacillus Calmete-Guerin (BCG) vaccination reduces the occurrence of new infections, particularly respiratory infections, in the elderly. Another study confirms the efficacy of BCG vaccination against COVID-19, with a 68% reduction in the risk of developing the disease compared to placebo. BCG vaccination also leads to a higher rate of positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Gopala Koneru, Gaber El-Saber Batiha, Abdelazeem M. Algammal, Mahmoud Mabrok, Sara Magdy, Shrouk Sayed, Mai E. AbuElmagd, Reham Elnemr, Mahmoud M. Saad, Noura H. Abd Ellah, Amal Hosni, Khalid Muhammad, Helal F. Hetta
Summary: Studies suggest that BCG may induce trained immunity to provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2. Repurposing the well-characterized BCG during the COVID-19 pandemic could offer some degree of protection to the population.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Wenping Gong, Ashok Aspatwar, Shuyong Wang, Seppo Parkkila, Xueqiong Wu
Summary: This study reviewed the concept and mechanisms of trained immunity induced by the BCG vaccine and presented details of current BCG vaccine clinical trials. The advantages of the BCG vaccine may be essential in overcoming the challenges faced by COVID-19 vaccines.
EXPERT REVIEW OF VACCINES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Wei-Yu Chi, Yen-Der Li, Hsin-Che Huang, Timothy En Haw Chan, Sih-Yao Chow, Jun-Han Su, Louise Ferrall, Chien-Fu Hung, T-C Wu
Summary: This review provides an up-to-date summary of current COVID-19 vaccines, discusses the biological basis and clinical impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants, analyzes the effectiveness of different vaccine booster regimens against various SARS-CoV-2 strains, reviews potential mechanisms of vaccine-induced severe adverse events, summarizes current studies on immune correlates of protection, and finally discusses the development of next-generation vaccines.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel M. Altmann, Rosemary J. Boyton
Summary: A diverse range of first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been successful in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, although inequitable distribution remains an issue. Future challenges include optimizing immunological boosting strategies and building an immune repertoire that can protect against upcoming viral variants.
Article
Immunology
So Yun Lim, Soonju Park, Ji Yeun Kim, Seungtaek Kim, Youngmee Jee, Sung-Han Kim
Summary: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination induces similar neutralizing antibody levels against the original strain and higher levels against the Omicron variant compared to those who were not vaccinated. Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection results in higher neutralization antibody titers than vaccination alone for both original strains and the Omicron variant.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jorge A. Soto, Fabian E. Diaz, Angello Retamal-Diaz, Nicolas M. S. Galvez, Felipe Melo-Gonzalez, Alejandro Pina-Iturbe, Mario A. Ramirez, Karen Bohmwald, Pablo A. Gonzalez, Susan M. Bueno, Alexis M. Kalergis
Summary: The BCG vaccine has the potential to be used as a platform for developing vaccines against different pathogens, inducing a marked antigen-specific immune response.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
C. Sabrina Tan, Ai-ris Y. Collier, Jingyou Yu, Jinyan Liu, Abishek Chandrashekar, Katherine McMahan, Catherine Jacob-Dolan, Xuan He, Vicky Roy, Blake M. Hauser, Jennifer E. Munt, Michael L. Mallory, Melissa Mattocks, John M. Powers, Rita M. Meganck, Marjorie Rowe, Rachel Hemond, Esther A. Bondzie, Kate H. Jaegle, Ralph S. Baric, Aaron G. Schmidt, Galit Alter, Mathieu Le Gars, Jerald Sadoff, Dan H. Barouch
Summary: By using heterologous Ad26.COV2.S vaccine as a booster for individuals previously vaccinated with BNT162b2, durable humoral and cellular immune responses can be achieved. This suggests potential benefits of heterologous prime-boost vaccine regimens for SARS-CoV-2.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Chang-Sheng Xia, Minghua Zhan, Yudong Liu, Zhi-Hong Yue, Ying Song, Feifei Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: This study assessed the levels of protective antibodies in SARS survivors with and without the COVID-19 vaccine, and found that SARS survivors have protective antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 even without vaccination, and generate a stronger antibody response after vaccination compared to controls.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marcel Renn, Eva Bartok, Thomas Zillinger, Gunther Hartmann, Rayk Behrendt
Summary: The global spread of infections caused by the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the urgent need for novel prophylactic and therapeutic interventions to reduce health risks associated with the pandemic. Animal models are crucial for assessing the efficacy and safety of potential new antivirals and vaccines.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jeffrey Maslanka, Gretel Torres, Jennifer Londregan, Naomi Goldman, Daniel Silberman, John Somerville, James E. Riggs
Summary: This study investigates the immunobiology of the peritoneum in ovarian cancer, revealing reduced B1 cells in the ascites and selective loss of B1 and marginal zone B cell subsets in the spleen. These findings suggest a correlation between the depletion of B cell subsets and the influx of myeloid-derived suppressor cells during ovarian cancer.
CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2024)
