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BCG Vaccine Derived Peptides Induce SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Cross-Reactivity.

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.
AuthorsPeter 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
JournalFrontiers in immunology (Front Immunol) Vol. 12 Pg. 692729 ( 2021) ISSN: 1664-3224 [Electronic] Switzerland
PMID34421902 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
CopyrightCopyright © 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

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