Can BCG be useful to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic? A Canadian perspective

Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Santé Publique
Philippe De WalsMaziar Divangahi

Abstract

There is ample evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies that the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine epigenetically reprograms innate immunity to provide "off target" protection against pathogens other than mycobacteria. This process has been termed "trained immunity". Although recent ecological studies suggested an association between BCG policies and the frequency or severity of COVID-19 in different countries, the interpretation of these results is challenging. For this reason, a case-control study aiming to test this hypothesis has been initiated in Quebec. Several phase III clinical trials are underway, including one in Canada, to assess the efficacy of BCG against SARS-CoV-2 infection (results expected in 2021). In the past, BCG has been widely used in Canada but current indications are restricted to high-risk individuals and communities experiencing TB outbreaks as well as for the treatment of bladder cancer. The potential implication of BCG as an interim measure to mitigate COVID-19 is the subject of widespread discussion in the scientific community and can be considered for the vulnerable population in Canada. To conclude, BCG vaccination should be placed on the agenda of research funding agencies, scientifi...Continue Reading

References

Oct 5, 2007·Annual Review of Public Health·Jonathan Wakefield
Sep 19, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Johanneke KleinnijenhuisMihai G Netea
Feb 5, 2014·Nature Reviews. Urology·Gil Redelman-SidiBernard H Bochner
Mar 1, 2015·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·María José de CastroFederico Martinón-Torres
Apr 18, 2015·BMC Public Health·Victoria NankabirwaUNKNOWN PROMISE- EBF Study Group
Jun 11, 2015·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Line StorgaardAne Bærent Fisker
Jul 23, 2016·Archives of Disease in Childhood·Lone Graff StensballeHenrik Ravn
Oct 16, 2016·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Julian P T HigginsArthur L Reingold
Oct 5, 2017·Frontiers in Immunology·Natalie E NieuwenhuizenStefan H E Kaufmann
Mar 6, 2018·International Journal of Urology : Official Journal of the Japanese Urological Association·Jun MiyazakiIkuya Yano
Sep 30, 2018·Nature Reviews. Immunology·Maziar Divangahi
Jan 15, 2019·The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal·Nigel Curtis
Feb 23, 2019·Nature Communications·Jona WalkRobert W Sauerwein
Sep 4, 2019·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·Shabaana A KhaderUNKNOWN Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery Innate Immunity Working Group18
Mar 7, 2020·Nature Reviews. Immunology·Mihai G NeteaEicke Latz
Apr 24, 2020·Clinical Immunology : the Official Journal of the Clinical Immunology Society·Koichi YukiSophia Koutsogiannaki
Jul 11, 2020·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·W Joost WiersingaHallie C Prescott
Jul 28, 2020·Vaccines·Daniel E Speiser, Martin F Bachmann
Sep 18, 2020·Cell·Evangelos J Giamarellos-BourboulisMihai G Netea

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 2, 2021·International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·Jean B NachegaAlimuddin Zumla

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Clinical Trials Mentioned

NCT04439045

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.