Abstract |
Epidemiological studies and clinical trials suggest Bacillus Calmette-Guérin ( BCG) vaccine has protective effects against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are now over 30 clinical trials evaluating if BCG vaccination can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19. However, the mechanism by which BCG vaccination can induce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T cell responses is unknown. Here, we identify 8 novel BCG-derived peptides with significant sequence homology to either SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 or NSP13-derived peptides. Using an in vitro co-culture system, we show that human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells primed with a BCG-derived peptide developed enhanced reactivity to its corresponding homologous SARS-CoV-2-derived peptide. As expected, HLA differences between individuals meant that not all persons developed immunogenic responses to all 8 BCG-derived peptides. Nevertheless, all of the 20 individuals that were primed with BCG-derived peptides developed enhanced T cell reactivity to at least 7 of 8 SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides. These findings provide an in vitro mechanism that may account, in part, for the epidemiologic observation that BCG vaccination confers some protection from COVID-19.
|
Authors | Peter J Eggenhuizen, Boaz H Ng, Janet Chang, Ashleigh L Fell, Rachel M Y Cheong, Wey Y Wong, Poh-Yi Gan, Stephen R Holdsworth, Joshua D Ooi |
Journal | Frontiers in immunology
(Front Immunol)
Vol. 12
Pg. 692729
( 2021)
ISSN: 1664-3224 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 34421902
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Copyright | Copyright © 2021 Eggenhuizen, Ng, Chang, Fell, Cheong, Wong, Gan, Holdsworth and Ooi. |
Chemical References |
- BCG Vaccine
- Vaccines, Subunit
|
Topics |
- Adult
- BCG Vaccine
(immunology)
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
(immunology)
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
(immunology)
- COVID-19
(immunology, prevention & control)
- Cells, Cultured
- Coculture Techniques
- Cross Reactions
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Humans
- Male
- SARS-CoV-2
(immunology)
- Sequence Analysis, Protein
- Sequence Homology
- Vaccines, Subunit
(immunology)
- Young Adult
|